African Stars Endure Tough Start on Champions League Opening Night
The 2015–16 UEFA Champions League campaign got underway on Tuesday, but it was a disappointing night for many of the African players involved, with few able to make a decisive impact for their clubs.
One of the most anticipated encounters saw Yaya Touré’s Manchester City host Paul Pogba’s Juventus, with the Franco-Guinean midfielder coming out on top. Despite City’s strong domestic form, the English side continued their European struggles, suffering a 2-1 home defeat. Ivorian striker Wilfried Bony started up front but was largely ineffective.
Elsewhere, Seydou Doumbia and Ahmed Musa failed to spark CSKA Moscow to victory in Germany, as they fell 1-0 to Wolfsburg. Doumbia, who has been in fine scoring form since returning to Russia, was unable to find the net on this occasion.
Galatasaray suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Atlético Madrid, with Cameroonian defender Aurélien Chedjou sidelined due to injury. His absence was felt as the Turkish club struggled to contain the Spanish visitors.
In Seville, Borussia Mönchengladbach endured a bruising 3-0 loss, with Guinean international Ibrahima Traoré in the starting XI but unable to influence proceedings.
At the Parc des Princes, Serge Aurier watched from the stands as Paris Saint-Germain eased past Malmö 2-0. The Ivorian right-back, who has been outstanding in Ligue 1, was given a rest, with Dutchman Gregory van der Wiel taking his place. For Malmö, Ghanaian midfielder Enoch Adu put in a spirited performance but could not match the quality of the French champions.
Champions League debutants FC Astana faced a steep learning curve in Portugal, going down 2-0 to Benfica. Junior Kabananga of DR Congo and Foxi Kéthévoama of the Central African Republic both started but struggled to make a mark as the Kazakh side adapted to the demands of elite European football.
While the opening night offered valuable experience for African players across the continent, few were able to influence results in their teams’ favour. The focus now shifts to matchday two, where many will be looking to bounce back and make a stronger impact on Europe’s grandest stage.
