Prolific Liverpool scorer Mohamed Salah led the way with a brace in a dramatic victory at Southampton, as six Africans scored in the Premier League over the weekend.
Ghanaians Thomas Partey and Jordan Ayew, Senegalese Ismaila Sarr and Nicolas Jackson, and Nigerian Alex Iwobi also found the back of the net.
Salah inspired a 3-2 comeback victory, raising his league tally to 10 goals — two fewer than the top scorer, Erling Haaland of Manchester City. Four Africans are now in the Premier League’s top eight goal scorers.
Here, AFP Sport highlights some of the African headline-makers in the major European leagues:
ENGLAND
MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)
The Egypt forward propelled Liverpool to an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League as his brace inspired a win at Southampton. Arne Slot’s side were in danger of a shock defeat to the bottom club after falling 2-1 behind early in the second half. But Salah levelled the score in the 65th minute, converting Ryan Gravenberch’s pass with a clinical finish. Salah sealed the Reds’ 10th win in 12 league games this season in the 83rd minute, netting his 12th goal of the season with a nerveless penalty.
THOMAS PARTEY (Arsenal)
The midfielder scored for the first time since August as Arsenal got back on track with a 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest. Partey doubled the Gunners’ lead in the 52nd minute, curling a fine finish past Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels from 20 yards after receiving a pass from Bukayo Saka. The 31-year-old’s second goal of the season — his first was in a win at Aston Villa — helped Mikel Arteta’s team to their first victory in five league games.
ISMAILA SARR (Crystal Palace)
The winger netted in a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa, finally ending his Premier League goal drought since his close-season move from Marseille. Sarr put Palace ahead in the fourth minute at Villa Park, dispatching Jean-Philippe Mateta’s pass to get off the mark in the top-flight on his 12th attempt. The 26-year-old’s only other goal for Palace came in the League Cup against second-tier Norwich in August.
ITALY
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (Atalanta)
Nigerian international Lookman scored his team’s third goal in a 3-1 win at Parma, helping Atalanta briefly take top spot in Serie A on Saturday. It was a case of third time lucky for Lookman, who struck in the 75th minute from close range after a cross from Juan Cuadrado. Earlier in the game, he had two goals ruled out for offside.
FRANCE
HAMED TRAORE (Auxerre)
The Ivory Coast international snatched a 1-0 win for Auxerre over Angers with a stoppage-time header for his sixth goal in 10 games since arriving on a season-long loan from Bournemouth. Traore is one goal shy of matching his career-high of seven goals, which he scored for Sassuolo in the 2021-22 season.
AFP