African footballers were at their exceptional best, putting on a show across Europe over the weekend. From Nice’s six-star display to Osimhen’s title triumph, we bring you all the action across Europe in this weekly football recap episode.
THE AFRICAN STARS DECIMATE BREST AS NICE CLAIMS VICTORY
OGC Nice thrashed Stade Brest thoroughly in their final Ligue 1 game of the season at the Allianz Riviera. Knowing fully well that an automatic UEFA Champions League spot was no longer feasible for them, they turned their sights to the next best thing: a spot in the Champions League qualifiers.
Ivorian forward Evann Guessand opened the scoring for the hosts in the 16th minute. Algerian midfielder Hicham Boudaoui intercepted a pass in midfield and squared the ball to Guessand. Guessand charged at the Brest defence and skipped past multiple challenges before fizzing his shot into the back of the net. An absolute beauty! The 23-year-old forward has been a decisive figure for Les Aiglons this season, registering 12 goals and 8 assists across 33 league appearances. The 2024/2025 season has been the best season of his career yet. Goalscorer turned provider three minutes after the opener as Gaëtan Laborde turned Guessand’s cutback into an open net for Nice’s second.
Nice was awarded a penalty, and Badredine Bouanani was handed spot-kick duties. The 20-year-old Algerian international stepped up and buried it decisively in the 28th minute, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. His first goal was in 2025! The hosts took a comfortable three-nil lead into the break.
Nice, picked up from where they left off after the restart, and Laborde grabbed his second in the 75th minute. Introduced as a substitute for goalscorer Guessand in the 78th minute, Terem Moffi wasted no time in making his impact known as he found the back of the net within four minutes of his introduction. Fellow substitute Sofiane Diop sent Moffi through on goal with a sumptuous through ball, and the Nigerian striker applied a beautiful finish, rounding up the goalie to tap the ball into an empty net. The goal was the Nigerian striker’s first league goal for Nice this season.
Moroccan midfielder Diop drew the curtain on a remarkable season that saw him register ten goal involvements for Nice with his assist for Toffi.
The substitutes were running the show for Nice, and 85th-minute substitute Ali Al-Abdi netted the home side’s sixth goal in the 94th minute. The Tunisian left-back reacted quickly to the rebound from Moffi’s saved shot and prodded it into the net from close range for his fifth goal of the league season. A resounding victory for Nice to cap off a memorable season.
GUIRASSY POWERS DORTMUND INTO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Borussia Dortmund have been in imperious form in recent weeks and have fought their way back into contention for the UCL spots. With one eye on the clash between SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, they were fully aware that only a win against Holstein Kiel at the Signal Iduna Park would guarantee them a spot in the Champions League, as long as Frankfurt avoided defeat.
Serhou Guirassy opened the scoring for the hosts in the 3rd minute, slotting the ball calmly into the net from the penalty spot. Never in doubt! The Guinean striker had found the back of the net for Dortmund in four consecutive league appearances before this match, and with destiny on the line, he made no mistake. His goalscoring run and clinical performances have been vital to Dortmund’s late surge towards Europe’s biggest club competition. Guirassy capped off his debut season with The Black and Yellow with a goal, registering 21 goals and 2 assists across 30 league appearances this season. Worth every penny!
Two second-half goals by Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha led Dortmund to a convincing victory against Kiel as they booked a spot in the Champions League for the 2025/2026 season. Luck was on Dortmund’s side as Eintracht Frankfurt defeated Freiburg, to strengthen their grip on the third position and help Dortmund secure their spot. Tunisian midfielder Ellyes Skhiri’s second-half goal completed the turnaround for Frankfurt against Freiburg. A perfect occasion to net his only league goal this season.
OSIMHEN CLINCHES TURKISH SUPER LEAGUE TITLE
Galatasaray arrived at RAMS Park to take on Kayserispor on the back of their Turkish Cup triumph, intent on clinching the Turkish Super Lig title at home with two games to spare. Victor Osimhen opened the scoring for the hosts in the 26th minute from a set-piece situation. Having had a goal ruled out for offside in the 25th minute, Osimhen was undeterred and rose highest to glance his header into the back of the net from Gabriel Sara’s cross.
The Nigerian striker has been a driving force for the Turkish Champions this season, leading them to absolute dominance in the Turkish League. Osimhen’s opener was his 25th goal this season, with five assists to boot, across 29 league appearances. Simply exceptional! With his goal, he became the third foreign footballer in Galatasaray’s history to score 25 goals in a Super Lig season, joining Bafetimbi Gomis and Mauro Icardi’s elite company.
Barış Alper Yılmaz doubled the lead for the hosts in the 29th minute as they took the lead into the break. Galatasaray was awarded a penalty in the closing minutes of the game and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera stepped up as Osimhen stepped aside unselfishly to allow his goalie to make history. Muslera buried it into the net thereby kick-starting the Gala’s title celebrations. With two games remaining this season, they clinched their third consecutive championship in style.
NDIAYE MAGIC PROPELS EVERTON TO WIN
Everton welcomed Southampton FC to Goodison Park, fully intent on securing victory in their last-ever men’s game at Goodison Park. Things got off to a delightful start for the hosts as Iliman Ndiaye opened the scoring in the 6th minute against the relegated side. The Senegalese magician picked up a loose ball outside the box, drove into Soton’s 18-yard box, and hammered the ball into the bottom left corner, sending the home side into raptures.
A couple of minutes later, Beto found the back of the net twice, but his goals were ruled out for offside. Having opened the scoring early on, Ndiaye grabbed his second goal in the additional minutes of the first half. A fine passage of play from the home side ended with Dwight McNeil’s pass ricocheting into space. Charging forward with determination at neck-break speed, Ndiaye got to the ball first, rounded up the goalie skillfully and fired the ball into the net for his ninth league goal of the campaign. Super Skiliman Ndiaye, as Everton fans fondly call him, danced his way to his first brace since 2022!
The Senegalese winger has now recorded double figures in goals for Everton across all competitions, drawing a curtain at Goodison Park with a man-of-the-match display that was worthy of the celebratory occasion. The 25-year-old’s brace helped the Evertonians secure their first home victory in seven games. He has been a bright spark for Everton this season with countless mesmerising performances, but this match was his crowning moment, as he etched his name into Everton folklore brilliantly.
RICHARDSON KEEPS FIORENTINA’S FAINT UECL HOPES ALIVE
Fiorentina played host to Bologna in their final home game of the season at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, knowing they needed all three points to keep their faint European qualification hopes alive. The match got off to the desired start for Fiorentina as Fabiano Parisi opened the scoring on the stroke of the quarter-hour mark with a stunning solo effort. The Italians’ goal was the difference between the two sides at the break.
Bologna sprang into action after the restart and found a breakthrough through Thijs Dallinga’s header in the 61st minute. La Viola watched their European hopes flickering desperately, on the verge of being extinguished and in dire need of inspiration. Cometh the hour, cometh the man!
Moroccan midfielder Amir Richardson rose to the occasion, grabbing his maiden Serie A goal to restore Fiorentina’s lead in the 67th minute. Parisi’s saved shot fell kindly to Amir Richardson, and he powered the rebound first time into the back of the net with a swing of his left boot. The young midfielder picked a perfect occasion to net his first goal for La Viola, in front of the home fans. Riccardo Orsolini grabbed an equalizer for the visitors in the 79th minute, however, Noise Kean restored their lead in the 84th minute to all but confirm the three points for the hosts.
UCHE’S STUNNER LEADS GETAFE TO WIN
Real Mallorca played host to Getafe at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix as they aimed to secure three consecutive victories over the visitors for the first time in top-flight history. Both sides were deadlocked at the break as neither side managed to find the back of the net before the halftime whistle. The game sprang to life after the restart as Mauro Arambarri opened the scoring to put Getafe ahead in the 56th minute.
The hosts doubled their lead 9 minutes after going ahead as Christantus Uche combined with Allan Nyom in devastating fashion. Nyom controlled a long ball forward expertly and cut back the ball to Uche on the edge of the box. The Nigerian midfielder did justice to the pass, rifling an unstoppable thunderbolt into the top corner. You simply can’t strike a ball better than that! His goal provided a much-needed safety cushion for the hosts.
The Nigerian midfielder has registered 4 goals and 5 assists for Getafe this season. A memorable debut season in the Spanish top flight for the youngster. Mallorca pulled a goal back through Cyle Larin in the closing minutes of the game; a consolation of sorts for the home side.
