African ALL Stars: Ndiaye at the double at emotional Goodison Park

There is still much to play for in many leagues across Europea and at home as clubs battle for titles, continental qualification and to avoid the dreaded drop.

Africa’s stars are playing their part as we round up the best of the performers from the weekend.

ILIMAN NDIAYE (SENEGAL & EVERTON)

It was a hugely emotional afternoon on Merseyside on Sunday as Everton’s men’s team said farewell to their home of the last 133 years, Goodison Park. They move to a new stadium for the 2025-26 season, with the women’s team taking up residence at the ‘Grand Old Lady’, and Senegalese star Ndiaye will go down in history, and into many quiz questions in the future, as being the last player to score at the famous old stadium.

His first in the 2-0 win over Southampton was a lovely finish from just inside the box as he steered the ball into the corner, before he added a second from close-range after chasing a through-ball. He took his tally to nine Premier League goals in his first season at the club, and 11 in all competitions.

Were it not for a long injury lay-off he might have had many more.

YOANE WISSA (DR CONGO & BRENTFORD)

Brentford’s hopes of European football next season were dealt a blow when they let a 2-1 hoe lead slip against Fulham to lose 3-2. They are not out of it, but their task is now much harder ahead of a final day meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wissa bundled the ball in from close range to score his side’s second goal, having earlier also provided an assist for Bryan Mbeumo. Wissa now has 19 goals and four assists this season after an outstanding campaign. He will be desperate to get to 20 against Wolves.

BRYAN MBEUMO (CAMEROON & BRENTFORD)

It was a mixed afternoon for Mbeumo against Fulham as he scored his side’s opener, but also missed a penalty in their 3-2 loss. He was slipped in on goal by Wissa and could not miss from 10-yards to score his 19th goal of the campaign to go with seven assists in 37 starts.

But minutes after that he was given the chance to convert a penalty, but saw his effort saved by Fulham keeper Bernd Leno. Mbeumo had netted all 10 of his previous penalties in the Premier League. But it should not detract from an outstanding campaign.

WILFRED NDIDI (NIGERIA & LEICESTER)

Jamie Vardy took the plaudits as he ended his Leicester career with exactly 200 goals in 500 appearances as he declined to play their final game of the campaign at Bournemouth next weekend to keep everything symmetrical.

But Ndidi also played his part in the 2-0 win over fellow relegated side Ipswich Town, laying on the second goal for Kasey McAteer as he picked out the youngster in the box. It was a fifth assist in 28 starts this season.

Whether Ndidi is at Leicester next campaign remains to be seen, the 28-year-old might feel he still has more to give in the Premier League.

CHRISTANTUS UCHE (NIGERIA & GETAFE)

Getafe ended a six-game losing run when they claimed a 2-1 which dented their opponents’ hopes of European football next season. It also confirmed Getafe’s place in LaLiga next season after they had been spiralling towards the relegation zone.

Uche scored their second goal when he side-footed high into the net from the edge of the box to make it 2-0. It was a fourth goal of the season to go with five assists for the 22-year-old, who celebrates his birthday on Monday. A nice early present.

NICOLAS PEPE (IVORY COAST & VILLARREAL)

Barcelona had already tied up the LaLiga title so there was not much riding on their clash with Villarreal, but the visitors new a win would seal Champions League football next season. And they delivered with a 3-2 success.

Pepe helped get them underway when he laid on an assist for Ayoze Pérez to open the score inside four minutes. He kept his cool after being played into space down the right and laid the ball across for the striker to score. It is a sixth assist to go with three goals in 15 LaLiga starts (and 12 sub appearances).

IBRAHIM SULEMANA (GHANA & ATALANTA)

The 21-year-old is having a strong finish to the season at Atalanta having been given a chance in the last few months and scored his second goal of the campaign in a 3-2 win at Genoa for his side, who are confirmed to finish third in Serie A.

It was a brilliant finish too as he volleyed the ball goalwards from 25-yards and it nestled in the bottom left corner of the net. It was fantastic technique from the Ghanaian and a second strike in two starts and six sub appearances.

AMIR RICHARDSON (MOROCCO & FIORENTINA)

Fiorentina kept alive their hopes of European football next season with a 3-2 home win over Bologna, leap-frogging their opponents into seventh in the table going into the final round of matches on Sunday.

Richardson put his side 2-1 ahead midway through the second half when Bologna goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski could only parry the ball into his path and the 23-year-old provided a composed finish. It is his first goal of the campaign after nine starts and 17 sub appearances.

ANTOINE MAKOUMBOU (CONGO & CAGLIARI)

Cagliari’s 3-0 win over Venezia ensured they would be in Serie A next season and Makoumbou played his part by laying on their third goal for Alessandro Deiola.

And it was a beauty of an assist too with a clever back-heel pass into the path of his teammate, who curled the ball into the back of the net. It is a third assist of the campaign for the 26-year-old in 26 starts and six sub appearances.

DEVIN TITUS (SOUTH AFRICA & STELLENBOSCH)

Titus’ goal and assist against SuperSport United took Stellenbosch into third place with one round of the Betway Premiership remaining, opening the potential for them to return to the CAF Confederation Cup next season.

They move ahead of Sekhukhune United by a single point with an away clash at a desperate Cape Town City to come on Saturday. Victory would see Stellies take third, and leave their provincial rivals in the relegation play-offs. Titus laid on the first goal against SuperSport with a perfect low cross into the path of Sanele Barns.

He then beat the offside trap and calmy finished past Matsatsantsa keeper Ricardo Goss from close range. That is eight goals and five assists for Titus in 25 starts and two sub appearances in the Betway Premiership this season.