It was a profitable weekend for Africa’s top stars across Europe’s major leagues with goals and assists aplenty as they continue to make their mark on the biggest stages.
Here is a round-up of the top performers with the second half of the campaign in full swing.
BETO (GUINEA-BISSAU & EVERTON)
Next fixture: Fulham (a)
Beto has had to play second-fiddle to Thierno Barry at Everton for much of the season, bit came off the bench to grab a later equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.
It earned the Toffees a deserved point and was a third goal of the campaign for the gangly striker, who remains a popular figure with the fans, even if his goals output has not been what he would have hoped.
This season he has a goal every 280 minutes in the Premier League but was still the subject of a loan enquiry by Juventus in January, which Everton rebuffed.
ANTOINE SEMENYO (GHANA & MANCHESTER CITY)
Next fixture: Liverpool (a)
Players can often find the step up to a bigger club a difficult transition, but not Semenyo, who moved from Bournemouth to Manchester City this month. He netted his fourth goals in five games in all competitions since moving to City, though they let a 2-0 lead slip at Tottenham Hotspur to draw 2-2.
In all he has 10 goals and three assists in 20 games in the Premier League this season. His goal against Spurs showed his clinical edge as he took a Bernardo Silva pass near the penalty spot before clipping a composed finish over Guglielmo Vicario in the home goal.
Next up, a huge trip to Anfield, where Semenyo already scored twice for Bournemouth this season.
DANGO OUATTARA (BURKINA FASO & BRENTFORD)
Next fixture: Newcastle (a)
Ouattara scored the winner as Brentford inflicted back-to-back home defeats on Aston Villa in the Premier League to seriously dent their title challenge. There were a few eyebrows raised when Outtara moved from Bournemouth to Brentford at the start of the campaign.
Was it really a step up? But he has fitted in well with four goals in 13 starts in the league as Brentford push for a European place this campaign. The Bees had been reduced to 10 men when he raced into the box from Kristoffer Ajer’s pass and after his initial effort was blocked, fashioned a second shooting chance which he finished.
ISMAÏLA SARR (SENEGAL & CRYSTAL PALACE)
Next fixture: Brighton & Hove Albion (a)
Crystal Palace have been on a tough run with no wins in their last 12 in all competitions, and an embarrassing exit as holders from the FA Cup by non-league Macclesfield Town. But they managed to get a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, thanks to Sarr’s fourth goal of the season, which came via the penalty-spot just before halftime after a Nico Williams handball.
Sarr also has an assist from 14 starts in the Premier League, and given his obvious talent, he might feel he can better that ratio.
AARON WAN-BISSAKA (DR CONGO & WEST HAM)
Next fixture: Burnley (a)
Ailing West Ham have been improved of late and when they went 2-0 up against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, would have been hoping for an upset win to help them in their relegation battle. In the end they lost 3-2, but right-back Wan-Bissaka continued his good form this season in a struggling team with two assists.
They were his first of the season in 14 starts as his burst down the right was him pass to Jarrod Bowen, who provided an excellent finish. The Hammers deservedly made it 2-0 when Wan-Bissaka again went on a rampaging run, before feeding Crysencio Summerville to score.
But they could not hold on and are now six points adrift in the relegation zone.
NICOLAS PÉPÉ (IVORY COAST & VILLARREAL)
Next fixture: Espanyol (a)
Villarreal’s bid for a Champions League place next season has hit a few hurdles in recent weeks with just one point taken from the last nine available, but they remain in fourth place in LaLiga, seven points ahead of Real Betis in fifth.
hey had to come from behind to earn a point in a 2-2 draw with Osasuna, and Pepe provided the assist for Gerard Moreno to score. Pepe was a surprise omission from the Ivory Coast side at the Africa Cup of Nations but has had a good season with two goals and three assists for The Yellow Submarine in 12 LaLiga starts.
IBRAHIM SULEMANA (GHANA & CAGLIARI)
Next fixture: Roma (a)
Cagliari made it three wins in a row as they thumped bottom side Verona 4-0 to move further away from the relegation zone, with Sulemana netting his first goal of the campaign, albeit from very limited game-time.
The 22-year-old made just three substitute appearances on loan at Bologna before a January loan move to Cagliari, where he has now come off the bench twice. In all he has played 92 minutes. Cagliari were 2-0 up when Sulemana bundled the ball over the line at a corner after the keeper had saved an initial shot. He remains on the books of parent club Atalanta.
RAFIU DUROSINMI (NIGERIA & PISA)
Next fixture: Verona (a)
It has been a difficult season for second-bottom Pia in Serie A, with a single win in their 23 games to date. This past weekend they lost 3-1 at home to Sassuolo as their struggled continue. Nigerian Durosinmi has been brought in from Czech side Viktoria Plzen in January to try and change their fortunes, and after scoring on debut in a 1-1 draw with Atalanta, he got an assist against Sassuolo. He has yet to start a game for them, but his impact off the bench has been good.
ALI ABDI (TUNISIA & NICE)
Next fixture: Monaco (h)
Nice had to come from two goals down at home to seal a 2-2 draw with visitors Brest in Ligue 1, and they were set on their way by a first goal of the season for Abdi. The defender netted five times in Ligue 1 for Nice last season but has found goals harder to come by this term, until this past weekend. He timed his run to perfection from a free-kick and guided his header into the back of the net, a first goal contribution in eight starts this season.
KAMORY DOUMBIA (MALI & BREST)
Next fixture: Lorient (h)
Doumbia got his fifth Ligue 1 goal of the season in that same game as he netted for Brest to put them 2-0 up. He was picked out at the back post and coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net to keep him on course for what could be his highest goals return in a Ligue 1 season. He is one shy of his previous best, the six goals he managed in the 2023/24 season. The 22-year-old also has two assists for seven goal contributions in 14 starts.
ILAN KEBBAL (ALGERIA & PARIS FC)
Next fixture: Auxerre (a)
Paris FC have had a solid first half of the season on their long-awaited return to the French topflight and their 2-2 home draw with Marseille at the weekend moved them seven points clear of the relegation play-off position.
Their star of the show has been Kebbal, who netted for the eight time in Ligue 1 as his 94th minute penalty secured a 2-2 draw. Paris FC had been 2-0 down with eight minutes remaining, so the draw will feel like a win. The 28-year-old also has four assists for a total goals contribution return of 12 in 19 starts this campaign.
MOUSTAPHA MBOW (SENEGAL & PARIS FC)
Next fixture: Auxerre (a)
Mbow was involved in Paris FC’s first goal in their comeback draw against Marseille, providing the assist for Jonathan Ikoné. He did well to get to a floated free-kick into the box and his hooked ball across goal was headed into the net by Ikoné for 2-1. Kebbal went on to find the equaliser from the spot. It was his first goal contribution in 19 starts this season.