African Stars Shine on Champions League Opening Night
The UEFA Champions League has kicked off with a strong presence from African internationals, featuring 45 players from the continent among 92 black players in total this season. Several African stars have already made an impact on the opening night.
Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was a standout, scoring a crucial goal for Borussia Dortmund. Despite Dortmund trailing Arsenal 1-0 at halftime, Aubameyang broke the deadlock just three minutes into the second half, helping his team secure a 2-0 victory. This goal marked his second in three days, having netted in the Bundesliga win over Freiburg (3-1).
In Italy, Ghanaian midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah played a key role for Juventus, setting up Carlos Tevez for two goals as the Italian giants secured a 2-0 win over Malmö of Sweden.
Turkish side Galatasaray also showed resilience in their home match against Anderlecht. Trailing 1-0 late in the game, the Turks fought back to earn a draw thanks to a last-minute goal from Burak Yilmaz, assisted by Cameroonian Aurélien Chedjou, who took on a rare center-forward role.
African players continue to be pivotal as the Champions League unfolds, showcasing their talent on Europe’s biggest stage.
