In our very first episode, we present a comprehensive roundup of some of the weekend’s top performances by African footballers in Europe as we dissect the standout moments, goals, and assists that defined the weekend’s action and celebrate the exceptional contributions of African football stars on the global stage.
Salah Opens Scoring as Liverpool Defeats Tottenham 4-2 in Premier League
Egyptian forward, Mohamed Salah swiftly put last week’s sideline disagreement with Jurgen Klopp behind him by scoring first in Liverpool’s 4-2 victory against Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday. Salah, back in the starting lineup, found the back of the net in the 16th minute by heading in Cody Gakpo’s cross from the left.
Liverpool extended their lead to 2-0 just before halftime when Andy Robertson converted from the rebound after Salah’s shot was saved by Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Gakpo scored Liverpool’s third goal five minutes into the second half with a header at the far post from Harvey Elliott’s cross. Elliott then added a brilliant individual goal, curling a left-footed shot into the top corner from around 20 yards out, extending Liverpool’s lead to 4-0.
Richarlison scored twice for Tottenham in the 72nd minute, and Heung-Min Son added a second in the 77th minutes, but Liverpool held on for the win to keep their hopes alive for a strong finish to the season under Klopp, who is stepping down as manager.
Victor Boniface Scores 19th Goal of the Season as Leverkusen Thrash Frankfurt 5-1
Bayer Leverkusen extended their unbeaten streak with a commanding 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Sunday, with Victor Boniface finding the back of the net once again. Boniface, entering the match in the 61st minute, sealed Leverkusen’s dominance with an 89th-minute penalty goal, bringing the scoreline to 5-1. The 23-year-old Nigerian striker has now tallied an impressive 12 goals in 21 league appearances for the newly crowned Bundesliga champions. Across all competitions, Boniface’s goal tally stands at 19.
Fellow Nigerian, Nathan Tella, also featuring for Leverkusen, started the game but was substituted off in the 72nd minute.
Granit Xhaka opened the scoring for Leverkusen in the 12th minute, followed by goals from Patrik Schick, Jeremie Frimpong, and Exequiel Palacios, further solidifying their commanding lead. Next on the agenda for Xabi Alonso’s side is the Europa League semi-final second leg clash against Roma at home. Leverkusen heads into the fixture with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg in Rome.
Nicolas Jackson’s Double Seals Emphatic 5-0 Win for Chelsea Against West Ham As Kudus Sets Premier League Record Despite Loss
Chelsea’s strong form at Stamford Bridge continued as they moved up to seventh in the Premier League with a 5-0 win over West Ham. The Blues ran riot in a dominant first half, wite in-form Cole Palmer opening the scoring, and Conor Gallagher and Noni Madueke making it 3-0. Nicolas Jackson wrapped up the scoring with a second-half brace as Mauricio Pochettino’s side boosted their European hopes.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Kudus, the Black Stars attacker, displayed exceptional talent on Sunday afternoon despite West Ham United suffering a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Chelsea in the English Premier League.
Despite the heavy loss at Stamford Bridge, Kudus stood out with a remarkable performance, making history by completing 13 successful dribbles in the game against Chelsea. This achievement marked him as the first player to achieve such a feat in the English Premier League this season. It is a record in a Premier League match since the start of the 2021–22 season.
Kudus’ outstanding performance adds to his recent accomplishments, as he also holds the record as the first player to complete 100+ dribbles among Europe’s top five leagues this season.
In his 90 minutes on the field, the 23-year-old showcased his prowess by completing 18 out of his 22 passes with an accuracy rate of 82%. Additionally, he completed two out of three long balls, and his only shot was on target, although it failed to beat Petrovic.
Chukwueze Assists as Milan and Genoa Play Out Thrilling 3-3 Draw
Samuel Chukwueze provided an assist as AC Milan and Genoa battled to a thrilling 3-3 draw at the San Siro on Sunday. It marks Chukwueze’s third assist in 23 Serie A appearances this season. The Nigerian winger delivered a superb cross to set up Florenzi for a header, levelling the score at 1-1 just before halftime.
Genoa took an early lead, with Mateo Retegui converting from the penalty spot in the fifth minute. Three minutes into the second half, Genoa surged ahead 2-1 with a goal from Caleb Ekuban.
Milan responded swiftly with two goals in quick succession, scored by Matteo Gabbia in the 72nd minute and Olivier Giroud in the 75th minute. However, Milan’s hopes of victory were dashed when Malick Thiaw’s own goal allowed Genoa to equalise in the 87th minute. Despite the draw, Milan remains in second place in the league table with 71 points.
