African ALL Stars: Egyptian magic from Marmoush and Salah

Egyptian Omar Marmoush netted a stunning hat-trick for Manchester City and Mo Salah was on target from the penalty spot as Africa’s leading stars continue to shine in Europe's elite leagues.

Here is a round-up of the best performers from the weekend.

OMAR MARMOUSH (EGYPT & MANCHESTER CITY)

Egyptian forward Marmoush marked his third Premier League start for Manchester City with a hat-trick, his first in the league since a treble for Wolfsburg reserves in the German regional league in 2019. And it was some hat-trick too as he sunk Newcastle United in the first half.

His first was a lovely chipped finish after City goalkeeper Ederson launched a ball forward to the Egyptian. It was a record sixth career assist for Ederson, the most by a keeper in the Premier League. His second saw him cut inside on the edge of the box and fire low into the bottom corner, while he completed his hat-trick after side-footing Savinho’s low cross into the back of the net. A brilliant start to life at The Etihad following his move from Eintracht Frankfurt in January.

MOHAMED SALAH (EGYPT & LIVERPOOL)

Salah followed up his goal against Everton in midweek with a penalty as Liverpool edged Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 in a far from comfortable afternoon at Anfield. Where would they be without the Egyptian?

He now has 23 goals (the most) and 14 assists (also the most) in the Premier League this season, meaning he has had a hand in 37 of Liverpool’s 60 goals scored (62 per cent). And still the club won’t give the 32-year-old a contract for next season. Incredible, he is a certainty for Player of the Season in the English topflight this campaign.

YANKUBA MINTEH (GAMBIA & BRIGHTON)

Brighton & Hive Albion saw off Chelsea in the FA Cup the week before, and then beat them again in the league, this time an emphatic 3-0 home success. Their Gambian winger Yankuba Minteh played a big part with two goals, taking his tally this campaign to five to go with two assists in nine starts (and 20 appearances overall).

Both his goals were set up by Danny Welbeck. He laid on a short pass for Minteh on the edge of the six yard box and the Gambian showed quick feet to work the shooting chance and score. His second followed a good one-two with Welbeck and then he again worked the shooting chance well before blasting home.

CALVIN BASSEY (NIGERIA & FULHAM)

Fulham put the brakes on Nottingham Forest’s title charge with a 2-1 home win and Bassey was in on the action with a rare goal. It was a nice finish too after Raul Jiminez flicked on a corner at the near post and the Nigerian defender arrived from head home for what proved the winner. It is just a fourth goal in 178 appearances in his career, with his only other Premier League strike coming against Manchester United last season.

BETO (GUINEA-BISSAU & EVERTON)

Beto battle for game-time under former Everton manager Sean Dyche, but is loving life since the return of David Moyes and netted a fourth goal in three games as The Toffees proved too sticky for hosts Crystal Palace. Beto ran on to a perfectly weighted pass from Everton’s new Argentine Charly Alcaraz before coolly slotting the ball past Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

That is now five league goals in four starts (and 13 sub appearances) for the Guinea-Bissau forward. Alcaraz, making his first start for the club, netted a late winner as Everton moved 13 points clear of the relegation zone and can now look up the table rather than down.

DANGO OUATTARA (BURKINA FASO & BOURNEMOUTH)

Ouattara continued his good form in front of goal this season and a seventh Premier League goal of the campaign to go with four assists. It was well taken too as he glanced Ryan Christie’s inviting ball into the back of the net as Bournemouth continued their hunt for European football with a comfortable 3-1 victory over bottom side Southampton. That is now six goals in seven games in all competitions for the Burkina Faso forward.

KAMALDEEN SULEMANA (GHANA & SOUTHAMPTON)

Southampton look more or less doomed having fallen 10 points from safety following their loss. But if they do go down as expected, it is almost certain another Premier League team will come in for the excellent Sulemana.

The 23-year-old has had his injury issues this season, btu when he has played has looked lively and bagged a goal against Bournemouth to cap a fine performance. He picked up a pass from Nigerian Paul Onuachu on the edge of the box, took a touch and blasted it low into the back of the net. A very fine finish.

PAUL ONUACHU (NIGERIA & SOUTHAMPTON)

Onuachu will take the assist for Sulemana’s goal as he picked out a simple pass, but the right option on the edge of the box. He has also been in good form of late despite Southampton’s struggles, and added an assist to go with his two goals.

The 30-year-old spent last season on loan in Turkey where he banged in an impressive 15 goals and will hope to rediscover that form in the closing months of the campaign.

BOULAYE DIA (SENEGAL & LAZIO)

Dia scored a late equaliser as Lazio held Serie A leaders Napoli to a 2-2 draw to keep their own hopes of European football next season alive. Dia came off the bench to take his chance as he cut in from the right wing and placed the ball past Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret. It is a seventh goal of the campaign for the 28-year-old to go with three assists, his goals contribution numbers reaching double figures in his first season in Rome.

CHRISTANTUS UCHE (NIGERIA & GETAFE)

Uche scored an early goal after just three minutes as Getafe continued their recent good form with a 2-1 win at Girona to move further away from the LaLiga relegation zone. He provided a fine finish low into the bottom corner from 18 yards after Girona had been caught in possession in their own box and paid the penalty. It is a third goal of the season to go with two assists for the Nigerian.

UMAR SADIQ (NIGERIA & VALENCIA)

Tall striker Sadiq arrived at Valencia last month and netted his maiden goal of the campaign in a 1-1 draw for Valencia at Villarreal as they moved closer to safety. The famous Spanish side are only in the relegation zone on goal-difference and will hope to pull clear in the coming weeks.

Sadiq reacted quickest to head a rebound from a goalkeeper save into the back of the net on 84 minutes and earn his side what could be a precious point. He has made four sub appearances for Valencia having spent much of the first half of the season on the bench for Real Sociedad.

CHIDERA EJUKE (NIGERIA & SEVILLA)

Sevilla romped to a 4-0 win at bottom side Real Valladolid and Ejuke provided the assist for their fourth goal after coming off the bench. He made a good decision to play in Dodi Lukébakio on the left-hand side and the latter drilled the ball into the back of the net. It was a first assist of the season to go with a single goal in six starts (and 14 appearances in all).

TSHEGOFATSO MABASA (SOUTH AFRICA & ORLANDO PIRATES)

Mabasa has been a goals machine of late and scored his second hat-trick of the season as Orlando Pirates defeated second-tier Baroka FC 3-1 in their Nedbank Cup Last 16 tie. Deon Hotto laid on the assist for Mabasa’s first goal with a ball across the six-yard box for a tap-in, before the brilliant Patrick Maswanganyi provided the assists for the next two.

Mabasa now has 12 goals this season and is only nine short of Pirates’ all-time leading marksman in the PSL era, Benedict Vilakazi. Mabasa has 43 goals for the Buccaneers and is closing in on Vilakazi’s tally of 52.