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| Manchester City s Riyad Mahrez celebrates after scoring his side s fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United, at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, March 6, 2022. AP |
A substitute in the previous two league games, the 2016
African Footballer of the Year rewarded manager Pep Guardiola with the last two
City goals in the derby romp at the Etihad Stadium.
It was a welcome change of fortune for the 31-year-old
Paris-born star, who had netted just once in 15 previous matches against fierce
rivals United.
Here, AFP Sport highlights Africans who starred in the major
European leagues:
RIYAD MAHREZ (Manchester City)
Mahrez starred in City’s 4-1 demolition of United, scoring
two goals to take his season’s tally to 21 in all competitions. His first goal
was a superb half-volley from the edge of the area after he was found by a
corner from Kevin De Bruyne, and he scored another late on to complete the
rout.
WILFRIED ZAHA (Crystal Palace)
Ivory Coast international Zaha scored a penalty for Palace
in their 2-0 win at Wolves, awarded for a foul by Max Kilman on Ghanaian
Jeffrey Schlupp. Zaha’s ninth league goal of the season helped lift Palace into
the top half of the table.
SADIO MANE (Liverpool)
Liverpool forward Mane, who won the Africa Cup of Nations
with Senegal last month, was on target against West Ham midway through the
first half at Anfield, finishing Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low cross-cum-shot.
The three points kept Jurgen Klopp’s men hot on the heels of leaders Manchester
City.
EDUARDO CAMAVINGA (Real Madrid)
Camavinga, 19, scored his second goal for Real Madrid in a
4-1 win over Real Sociedad. The Angola-born France midfielder equalised before
half-time with a superb long-range shot fizzing into the corner. Carlo
Ancelotti said Camavinga is “an option” to start in the Champions League
against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, with Toni Kroos battling a hamstring
injury.
EMMANUEL GYASI (Spezia)
Ghana forward Gyasi had a golden chance to earn Spezia what
would have been a deserved draw at Juventus just after half-time, but could
only aim a weak header at Wojciech Szczesny with the goal at his mercy. Spezia
sit four points above the Serie A relegation zone after the 1-0 defeat.
KALIDOU KOULIBALY (Napoli)
Normally in the headlines for his imperious defensive
performances, Senegal captain Koulibaly’s most notable act during Napoli’s 1-0
defeat to Serie A title rivals AC Milan was to clatter into match-winner
Olivier Giroud and give him a bleeding gash which almost forced the French
forward off the field midway through the first half.
TAIWO AWONIYI (Union Berlin)
Forward Awoniyi has forced his way into Nigeria’s squad
thanks to an excellent season in front of goal. But the 24-year-old former
Liverpool youngster scored at the wrong end as Union slipped to a 1-0 defeat at
VfL Wolfsburg. The capital club need Awoniyi to start finding the right net if
they are to arrest their slump and maintain a Champions League push.
FRANCE LEBO MOTHIBA (Troyes)
The South African scored his first goal since December 2019
as he came off the bench to wrap up a 2-0 victory over Bordeaux from the
penalty spot. Mothiba, 26, was loaned out by Strasbourg in January after
signing an extension with the club until 2024 following two years wrecked by
injury.
AFP