Five African players who stood out in Europe this weekend

Francis Onyeka, Gessime Yassine, Jeremie Boga, Taiwo Awoniyi and Umar Sadiq all made decisive contributions for their clubs across Europe’s top five leagues this weekend.

Francis Onyeka announces himself in the Bundesliga

Francis Onyeka scored his first Bundesliga goal as Elversberg beat Mainz 4-1 on matchday eight.

The Germany-born Nigeria international, who is on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, started as a number 10 and opened the scoring in the 26th minute. After being found by David Mokwa on the counter-attack, Onyeka held off Paul Nebel before sending a low left-footed shot beyond Robin Zentner.

It was his only attempt of the match, but he was named player of the game before being replaced in the 77th minute. The goal was also his first of the season in the league. Elversberg have 13 points and remain seventh in the table.

Yassine involved in four Strasbourg goals

Gessime Yassine played a part in four of RC Strasbourg’s five goals in their 5-1 victory over Auxerre on Sunday in Ligue 1.

The Morocco international set up Martial Godo for the second goal in the 55th minute and won the penalty converted by Conrad Harder seven minutes later. Yassine then scored twice, first with his left foot in the 77th minute after being supplied by Sebastian Nanasi, and then with a header from Diego Oso’s cross in the 85th minute.

Named man of the match, Yassine now has four goals and four assists in the league. Strasbourg ended a run of four successive defeats and moved out of the relegation places into 12th, with 10 points.

Boga seals Juventus win against Napoli

Jeremie Boga came off the bench to score Juventus’ second goal in a 2-0 Serie A victory over Napoli on Sunday.

The Ivory Coast international replaced Kerim Alajbegovic in the 72nd minute and struck in the 87th. Set up by Andrea Cambiaso, Boga curled a right-footed effort into the far corner, 17 minutes after Alajbegovic had opened the scoring.

Napoli had been reduced to 10 men following Marianucci’s dismissal. Boga’s goal was his first in the league this season and made him the second African player to score for Juventus against Napoli in Serie A, after Mario Lemina in 2015. Juventus are seventh with 17 points.

Awoniyi opens Premier League account

Taiwo Awoniyi scored his first Premier League goal of the season in Coventry’s 3-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday.

Starting as the central striker, the Nigeria international capitalised on a mistake by Luke O’Nien in the 37th minute and fired into the bottom corner past Robin Roefs to make it 2-0. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto had put Coventry ahead in the 17th minute.

Awoniyi was substituted in the 72nd minute. The goal was his second in all competitions. Coventry moved from six points to nine and climbed out of the relegation zone into 16th.

Sadiq returns with winning goal

Umar Sadiq scored the only goal at Elche on his return from a two-month absence caused by a hamstring injury.

The Nigeria international came on in the 60th minute during the 11th round of La Liga and struck nine minutes later. Released by Arnaut Danjuma on a counter-attack, Sadiq rounded a defender and the goalkeeper before finishing with his left foot.

The victory was Valencia’s first under Javier Aguirre and their first in five league matches. Sadiq has two La Liga goals this season, while Valencia moved from six points to nine but remain in the relegation zone, one point behind 17th place.