There have been some new names on our list of top African performers in Europe’s elite leagues this season after a bumper weekend for players from the continent.
BRYAN MBEUMO (BRENTFORD & CAMEROON)
Cameroon international Mbeumo just can’t stop scoring as he netted a sixth goal of the season in the Premier League in Brentford’s excellent 2-0 victory at Chelsea on Saturday. This one was put on a plate for him as The Bees made a late break with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez up for a corner, and Neal Maupay squared the ball for a tap-in. Mbeumo also got an assist for Brentford’s opener for Ethan Pinnock.
MOHAMED SALAH (LIVERPOOL & EGYPT)
It wouldn’t be our weekly wrap without a mention for Salah, who continues to be a goals and assist king for Liverpool. He followed up his brace in the Merseyside derby with a third for Liverpool as they completed a comfortable 3-0 home win against Nottingham Forest. The Reds were already 2-0 up when a breakdown in communications between Harry Toffolo and goalkeeper keeper Matt Turner let Salah in to score. It is a fourth goal in three games and 10th for the season, with eight of those in the Premier League.
JORDAN AYEW (CRYSTAL PALACE & GHANA)
It might have been all in vain in the end as Crystal Palace lost 2-1 at home to high-flying Tottenham Hotspur, but Ghana midfielder Ayew got his name on the scoresheet in the 94th minute. It was his first of the season and given that there were 13 minutes of injury-time played at the end of the game, did give The Eagles a sniff of getting something out of the fixture. Ayew has not been as prolific as he would like in the Premier League, but did get five goals last season, his best tally since he netted nine for Palace in the 2019/20 campaign.
ANTOINE SEMENYO (BOURNEMOUTH & GHANA)
Bournemouth picked up what could be a vital win against fellow strugglers Burnley, their first victory of the campaign in their 10th Premier League match. They were helped along the way by an equaliser from Semenyo midway through the first half, the Ghana attacker showing good enterprise to pinch the ball off Charlie Taylor and fire a low shot into the bottom corner to level the scores. Philip Billing then scored a stunning second to win the game for The Cherries. It is Semenyo’s second goal of the campaign, and already one more than he netted last term.
MARIO LEMINA (WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS & GABON)
Lemina scored a first goal for Wolves since joining the club at the start of last season, helping the team to a home 2-2 draw against Newcastle United in which they twice came from behind. His only three other Premier League goals came for Southampton (two) when he spent two seasons there between 2017 and 2019, and Fulham in 2020/21. Lemina drew Wolves level at 1-1 in the first half when he outmuscled Kieran Trippier to head in Neto's corner.
ANTOINE MAKOUMBOU (CAGLIARI & CONGO)
Makoumbou played his part in the greatest comeback in Serie A history as Cagliari battled from 3-0 down to beat Frosinone 4-3, with all four of their goals coming after the 71st minute. No side has ever won a game in Italy’s topflight having been 3-0 down so late in the match. Makoumbou got his side’s second goal to make it 3-2 on 76 minutes, his first of the season and maiden goal in Serie A. He scored once as Cagliari won promotion last season. The 25-year-old’s career looks to be taking off after a low-key spell in Slovenia.
SORY KABA (LAS PALMAS & GUINEA)
Las Palmas continue to impress in Spain’s LaLiga with a third win in four games as they claimed a 2-1 success at Almeria. And it was handed to them by a 94th-minute winner from Kaba, his first for the club. He reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box and drilled his shot into the back of the net to seal the late, late win. He arrived at Las Palmas this season from Danish side Midtjylland, having had a bit of a journeyman career to date. He played last season in the English Championship for Cardiff City, scoring eight times.
MUNIR EL HADDADI (LAS PALMAS & MOROCCO)
Las Palmas’ opener in the game came from Morocco international El Haddadi as he turned the ball in at the near post from a cross. It is also his first goal for the team having joined the club this campaign, his third side in as many seasons after also playing for Sevilla and Getafe. The former Barcelona academy product, once also a Spain international, should be reaching his peak at the age of 28.
ABDUL MUMIN (RAYO VALLECANO & GHANA)
Rayo Vallecano took the lead against Real Sociedad, but then had to come from behind to rescue a point in a seesaw battle on Sunday. Their opener was scored by Mumin, his first in LaLiga for the club and only the second goal of his league career. It came a little over a month after he was sent off against Cadiz. Mumin scored his goal from a tight angle as he rocketed the ball into the back of the net, a moment to savour for the 25-year-old defender.
BEBE (RAYO VALLECANO & CAPE VERDE)
Real Sociedad fought back to lead 2-1 in the game into injury time, but Bebe proved the hero for Vallecano as he came up with the equaliser. He picked up the ball 35 yards from goal, advanced forward and unleashed a powerful low drive that nestled into the corner of the net. It is his third goal in as many games if you include one on international duty for Cape Verde against Algeria.
INAKI WILLIAMS (ATHLETIC BILBAO & GHANA)
Athletic Bilbao scored a 97th-minute equaliser to earn a 1-1 home draw with Valencia, and it was Williams who laid on the goal for Álex Berenguer. Williams’ brilliant, whipped-in cross had pace on it and was perfect for Berenguer to glance his header home. Williams has not scored for a month, but if he keeps providing assists, that is as good as a goal.