AFRICAN ALL STARS: Salah, Munetsi and two Sarrs on target in the Premier League

Penalty king Mo Salah kept up his remarkable scoring record this season as Liverpool march on in the Premier League title race, and ex-PSL star Marshall Munetsi was on target for Wolverhampton Wanderers for the first time since his January move.

Here is a round-up of Africa’s top performers from the weekend.

MOHAMED SALAH (EGYPT & LIVERPOOL)

Liverpool’s now seemingly unstoppable march to the Premier League title continued as they opened up a 15-point lead at the top of the table. It would be the greatest collapse in Premier League history were they not to go on and lift the trophy now. They fell behind to bottom side Southampton at Anfield on Saturday, but after Darwin Nunez had equalised, Salah stepped up to convert two penalties and give The Reds a 3-1 victory. That takes his penalty tally to nine for the season, three more than the next highest for a player, the six of Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert. Overall, Salah now has a remarkable 27 goals and 17 assists in 29 starts in the league.

MARSHALL MUNETSI (ZIMBABWE & WOLVES)

Former Baroka FC and Orlando Pirates midfielder Munetsi has been asked to play a more advanced role since his arrival at Wolverhampton Wanderers from French Ligue 1 side Reims in January. And he got his first goal with an equaliser against Everton in a 1-1 draw that moves Wolves six points clear of the drop zone. The goal was more about the run than anything else as he burst from the centre-circle and into the box to get on the end of a low pass and steer it past Jordan Pickford. It was a goal full of composure. That is a goal and an assist in his first three starts for the club.

PAPE SARR (SENEGAL & TOTTENHAM)

Tottenham Hotspur came from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw at home against Bournemouth and Sarr played his part in pulling their first goal back for his third of the season. It was a fine strike too as he spotted visiting goalkeeper Kepa off his line and lofted the ball over him and into the net. That goal came just two minutes after Spurs had gone 2-0 down, so was crucial to swing momentum their way. He also has two assists to go with his three goals in the league this season.

ISMAILA SARR (SENEGAL & CRYSTAL PALACE)

It looked as though Ipswich Town would hold on for a point at Crystal Palace going into the final 10 minutes, but in-form Sarr had other ideas with a superb winner. He collected the ball on the edge of the box, burst past two defenders showing great strength, and then chipped the ball over the Tractor Boys’ keeper to win the game for his side. Sarr has reached double figures with seven goals and three assists in his 21 starts (and seven sub appearances) this season.

ALEX IWOBI (NIGERIA & FULHAM)

Fulham lost 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion but took the lead when Nigeria star Iwobi laid on the opening goal for Raul Jimenez. It was a superb piece of midfield play as he drove forward with the ball from his own half before picking out the Mexican to score with a pinpoint cross. That is now 11 goal contributions for Iwobi this campaign, with seven goals and four assists in the Premier League. He must be in contention for the club’s Player of the Season.

CHIDERA EJUKE (NIGERIA & SEVILLA)

Sevilla climbed into the top half of the LaLiga table thanks to a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad, handed to them by the Nigerian Ejuke. He netted just after halftime, his second goal of the season and first since September in what has been a mostly frustrating season. It was a lovely strike though as he curled the ball from the edge of the box and into the bottom right corner of the net. He also has one assist this season.

UMAR SADIQ (NIGERIA & VALENCIA)

Sadiq has been a revelation since he joined Valencia in January, and got another goal in the vital 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid that moved his side out of the relegation zone. He netted just before the hour-mark for his fourth goal in three starts (and four sub appearances) for what proved to be the winner by the beanpole striker. He had missed several chances in the first half but took a long pass onto his chest and then reacted quickest as the ball dropped to the floor and stretched to score.

KEITA BALDE (SENEGAL & MONZA)

Bottom side Monza stunned title-chasing Inter Milan when they went 2-0 up at the San Siro, but although they eventually lost the game 3-2, there was a goal for Balde, and it was a beauty too. The attacker rifled the ball into the back of the net from 25 yards to score his first for Monza since a January move from Sivasspor in Turkey. It will be a hard task to keep his side up in Serie A, but he can put himself in the shop window for next season.

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (NIGERIA & ATALANTA)

Atalanta pulled off a stunning 4-0 win over Juventus in Turin to cement their grip on third place and Lookman was in the goals again. He netted his side’s fourth after 77 minutes to make it 13 goals and five assists in Serie A this season. It means he has matched his best goals tally for a season in the league, and has plenty of time to add further to it. He picked up the ball 40 yards from goal before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box that took a deflection and landed up in the bottom corner of the net. Atalanta are now only three points behind Serie A leaders Inter.

MAXWEL CORNET (IVORY COAST & GENOA)

Cornet moved from Southampton in England to Serie A side Genoa in January and netted his second goal in his last four matches in a 1-1 draw with fellow mid-table side Cagliari. After his team fell behind, the Ivory Coast star brought Genoa level two minutes into the second period. It was a simple finish at the back post from Caleb Ekuban’s low cross but Cornet showed good composure to place his shot beyond the keeper. He now has two goals and an assist in two starts and four sub appearances since his arrival at the club.

CALEB EKUBAN (GHANA & GENOA)

Ekuban laid on that goal for Cornet with a fine run down the right flank and then the most perfect low cross that meant his teammate could not miss. It was a third assist of the season to go with a single goal in three starts and 10 sub appearances for the Ghanaian, whose season has been blighted by injury. He will be hoping for a big finish to the campaign to set himself up for next season.