African ALL Stars: Salah keeps Liverpool on course, Doucoure’s fast start

There were plenty of goals and assists for Africa’s top stars at home and abroad this past weekend as we pick out the best of the performers.

MOHAMED SALAH (EGYPT & LIVERPOOL)

Salah added two more goals to his tally this season as Liverpool picked up an important win away at in-form Bournemouth on their seemingly unstoppable march to the Premier League title. His first was from the penalty-spot, before he added a second to secure the points for the Reds, who now hold a six-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the table with a game in hand. That is now an astonishing 21 goals scored and 13 assists in the league for Salah in 23 appearances this season.

THOMAS PARTEY (GHANA & ARSENAL)

Manchester City may be having a difficult season, but no-one would have expected them to get thrashed 5-1 at Arsenal on Saturday. The Gunners took the lead, but when Erling Haaland equalised 10 minutes after halftime, the game was in the balance. That was until Partey unleashed a fierce drive from outside the box a minute later, which deflected off John Stones and went into the net. From there it was one-way traffic as Arsenal scored three more. It was a third goal of the Premier League season to go with two assists for Partey.

ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE (MALI & EVERTON)

Doucoure scored the fastest ever goal for Everton in the Premier League, and the fourth fastest of all time, as he netted after just 10.18 seconds in the 4-0 win over Leicester City that propelled the Toffees nine points clear of the relegation zone. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford launched a long ball forward from the kick-off and Doucoure controlled the ball with his chest before bursting into the box and providing a neat finish. He can be a bit his and miss in front of goal and it was his first Premier League strike of the season. He has yet to find an assist.

BETO (GUINEA-BISSAU & EVERTON)

A long-term injury to Dominic Calvert-Lewin gifted Beto the chance to start and stake a claim for a more permanent place in the team, and boy did he deliver. He netted his first against Leicester after six minutes as Everton’s fast start continued, latching onto an excellent ball from James Tarkowski. His second was even better with one of the passes of the Premier League season by James Garner that allowed Beto to outpace the defence and cooly finish. He had looked poised for an exit back to Italy this transfer window, but Beto could yet play a big part in the remainder of Everton’s season. He now has three Premiership goals with Saturday just his second start (to go with 13 sub appearances).

ILIMAN NDIAYE (SENEGAL & EVERTON)

Ndiaye completed a clean sweep of African goalscorers for Everton as he added their fourth against Leicester. It was, in fairness, a defensive calamity as the Foxes failed to clear the ball on the edge of their box and it rebounded to Ndiaye, who raced towards goal unchallenged and provided a neat finish in front of the Gwladys Street end. The Senegal star netted for the third Premier League game in a row and took his tally this season to six, to go with one each in the League Cup and FA Cup.

PAPE SARR (SENEGAL & TOTTENHAM)

Tottenham’s horror run of six defeats in seven games (one drawn) came to an end with a 2-0 victory at Brentford on Sunday, with their second goal coming from Sarr. He was teed-up by Heung-Min Son and finished well for his second goal of the campaign. His previous strike came against Southampton in December. Whether this now spurs the club on to a sweep up the table remains to be seen, but their lengthy injury list should start easing. Sarr also has two assists this campaign.

JOE ARIBO (NIGERIA & SOUTHAMPTON)

Southampton look doomed to relegation, but they did at least pick up a second victory of the season, and first away from home, as they defeated fellow strugglers Ipswich Town 2-1. Despite the result, The Saints remain 10 points from safety. Their first goal came from Nigerian Aribo as he collected a pass in the box and drilled the ball into the back of the net. It may have been a poor season for the club, but Aribo has been in good form as he scored his third goal.

PAUL ONUACHU (NIGERIA & SOUTHAMPTON)

Ipswich had equalised, but Onuachu ensured Southampton went away with the three points as he turned the ball into the back of the net from close range after home goalkeeper Arijanet Murić could only parry the ball into his path from an earlier shot. The big Nigerian striker now has two goals in three games having finally been given a run in the side by new coach Ivan Juric.

IBRAHIM SANGARE (IVORY COAST & NOTTINGHAM FOREST)

Nottingham Forest were beaten 5-0 at Bournemouth the weekend before and might having been fearing another defeat against a tricky Brighton & Hove Albion outfit. They should not have worried. Forest cruised to a 7-0 victory as they ran riot, turning the despair of last week into ecstasy this time round. Sangare played his part when he helped Nico Williams score the home side’s sixth goal. His touch fell for the latter to blast the ball into the net. Sangare has just three starts and a sub appearance in the Premier League this and has been sparingly used, so will be delighted to pick up his first assist.

PAPE GUEYE (SENEGAL & VILLARREAL)

Villarreal were handsome 5-1 winners at home to Real Valladolid as they cement fifth spot in LaLiga, and Gueye scored their second goal 20 minutes into the second half. It was his first of the season as he swept the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box with his left foot. It is his first goal contribution of the season.

SELIM AMALLAH (MOROCCO & VALLADOLID)

It was a torrid day out for Valladolid but they did get a consolation late on through Amallah, a third of the season for the Moroccan to go with one assist. It was a superb strike too as he volleyed the ball from 25-yards and it went into the grounds and looped over the goalkeeper and into the net. It showed his fantastic technique, but was far too little, too late for Valladolid, who are rooted to the foot of the LaLiga table and eight points from safety.

PATHE CISS (SENEGAL & RAYO VALLECANO)

Rayo Vallecano secured a 1-0 victory at 10-man Leganes to climb to sixth in the LaLiga table in an excellent campaign for them so far. The winner came from Ciss some 12 minutes from the end as he bundled the ball into the back of the net from six yards when Leganes failed to clear a ball into the box. It was a second goal of the campaign to go with one assists from 10 starts and eight sub appearances.

CEDRIC BAKAMBU (DR CONGO & REAL BETIS)

Real Betis led twice against visitors Athletic Bilbao, but had to settle for a 2-2 draw against the fourth-placed team in LaLiga. With the score at 1-1, Bakambu provided the assist for Romain Perraud to put the hosts 2-1 up, though they could not hold on for the win. It was Bakambu’s fantastic challenge that won the ball and allowed Perraud to unleash a 30-yard pile-driver into the back of the net. It was his second assist of the season to go with a single goal.

OMAR EL HILALI (MOROCCO & ESPANYOL)

Espanyol stunned league leaders Real Madrid with a 1-0 victory that moved them out of the relegation zone and provided a famous win, just their 10th in 60 previous meetings with the club from the capital. Espanyol’s city rivals Barcelona will also be delighted with the result. El Hilali provided the assist for the winning goal five minutes from the end as his superb ball from out wide fell for Carlos Romero to score. It was his second assist of the season in 21 starts.

HASSANE KAMARA (IVORY COAST & UDINESE)

Udinese won a see-saw battle with Venezia 3-2 having led 2-0 in the contest before allowing the visitors to draw level. Iker Bravo eventually scored the winner six minutes from the end for Udine. Remarkably all five goals came in the second half. They were set on their way by a goal from Lorenzo Lucca, who was teed-up by Kamara. His search deep cross to the back post was headed into the back of the net by Lucca. It was a third assist of the campaign to go with a single goal for the Ivorian.

FALI CANDE (GUINEA-BISSAU & VENEZIA)

New boy Cande will have felt he had done enough to help his side earn a point against Udinese as he assisted Christian Gytkjær for an equaliser 12 minutes from the end. His flick from a corner fell to the Dane, who only had to help the ball over the line. But the visitors ended up conceding again and losing the game as they sit second bottom in Serie A, five points from safety. Cande joined Venezia from Ligue 2 Metz last month and managed a first assist in his second appearance.

PETER SHALULILE (NAMIBIA & MAMELODI SUNDOWNS)

Shalulile has had to settle for a place on the bench at Mamelodi Sundowns of late, but when called upon has delivered. He came into the game against Lamontville Golden Arrows in the first half after Sphelele Mkhulise was replaced in a tactical substitution. Shalulile won a penalty, converted by Lucas Ribeiro, to give Sundowns the lead, before adding two goals of his own in the second period. His first was a beautiful finish as he controlled a strong pass and volleyed in a shot as the ball bobbled up. His second was more of a tap-in after Ribeiro had unselfishly crossed to him six yards out. That is now 125 goals for Shalulile in South African football, four short of Siyabonga Nomvethe’s PSL record for topflight clubs. He has eight in 11 starts (and 16 sub appearances) this campaign.