African Stars Shine Across Europe’s Top Leagues
Germany (Bundesliga – Matchday 23)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues his remarkable scoring form for Borussia Dortmund. The Gabon striker netted the only goal in BVB’s 1-0 win away to Bayer Leverkusen, taking his tally to 21 league goals – just one behind Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski (22).
Morocco’s Younès Belhanda was also on target, rescuing a 1-1 draw for Schalke against Stuttgart, while Ivory Coast forward Salomon Kalou struck his 11th goal of the season to earn Hertha Berlin a point against Wolfsburg.
France (Ligue 1 – Matchday 27)
The Breton derby delivered fireworks as Lorient edged Guingamp 4-3 in a thriller. Ghanaian striker Majeed Waris scored twice to inspire the comeback, before Raphaël Guerreiro’s last-minute free-kick sealed victory.
Winter signing Saidi Ntibazonkiza netted his first Ligue 1 goal for Caen in their 1-0 success over Rennes.
Montpellier’s revival under Frédéric Hantz continued with a 3-2 triumph against Angers – goals came from Mali’s Moustapha Yatabaré and Senegalese veteran Souleymane Camara, while Congo’s Arnold Bouka Moutou replied for SCO.
Elsewhere, Prince Oniangué scored for Reims against PSG, but it was not enough as the champions ran out 4-1 winners. At Troyes, Senegalese forward Babacar Gueye found the net in a 3-1 defeat to Monaco, for whom 17-year-old prodigy Kylian Mbappé (of Cameroonian descent) became the club’s youngest ever scorer.
Moroccan star Sofiane Boufal struck the decisive goal as Lille beat Lyon 1-0 in the round’s closing fixture.
Italy (Serie A – Matchday 26)
AS Roma thrashed Palermo 5-0 with African players in the spotlight. Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah bagged a brace, while Malian midfielder Seydou Keita was also on the scoresheet.
Spain (La Liga – Matchday 25)
Rayo Vallecano extended Sevilla’s away-day woes in a 2-2 draw. Angola striker Manucho grabbed the equaliser after Franco-Congolese midfielder Steven N’Zonzi had opened the scoring for Sevilla.
England (FA Cup – 5th Round)
Burkina Faso forward Bertrand Traoré continued his rise at Chelsea, finding the net in their emphatic 5-1 win over a youthful Manchester City side.
