Adeyemi Abdulkareem
Liverpool’s Egyptian sensation, Mohamed Salah, showcased his prowess on the pitch once again in an enthralling English Premier League encounter against West Ham United at Anfield on September 24, 2023. The dynamic striker, donning the iconic #11 jersey for Liverpool, made headlines by opening the scoring in a 3-1 victory over the opposition.
Salah’s achievement, however, extends beyond this single match. He achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming just the fifth player in history to either score or assist a goal in each of his team’s initial six league games of a season. This exclusive club, now graced by Salah, includes legendary names such as David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero, and Erling Haaland.
Here, AFP Sport highlights other African footballers who have left their mark in the major European leagues:
ENGLAND
1. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): Salah, with his fourth goal of the season, ignited Liverpool’s 3-1 triumph over West Ham, expertly converting a penalty in the 16th minute after a foul by Morocco’s Nayef Aguerd.
2. Abdoulaye Doucoure (Everton): The Mali midfielder displayed his skill with a sublime strike, contributing to Everton’s first league win of the season, a 3-1 victory against Brentford. Doucoure netted just six minutes into the match with a clinical half-volley.
SPAIN
3. Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao): The Ghanaian international played a pivotal role in Athletic’s 2-0 La Liga win over Alaves, breaking the deadlock after 18 minutes with a well-timed run behind the defense. Although he missed a subsequent opportunity, his early goal set the tone for victory.
GERMANY
4. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich): Choupo-Moting wasted no time, opening the scoring just four minutes into Bayern’s dominant 7-0 Bundesliga victory over Bochum. The Cameroon international tapped in his first goal of the season during his inaugural league start.
5. Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen): Boniface continued his remarkable start with Leverkusen, notching another brace in a 4-1 win over Heidenheim. The Nigerian striker fired home an early goal and converted a second-half penalty.
6. Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart): Guirassy, representing Guinea, showcased his striking prowess with a pair of goals as Stuttgart prevailed 3-1 against Darmstadt. His contributions have elevated his season tally to an impressive 10 goals from just five matches.
FRANCE
7. Jeremie Boga (Nice): The France-born Ivory Coast international winger, Jeremie Boga, delivered a memorable moment as he came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner in Ligue 1, securing a 1-0 victory for Nice against local rivals Monaco. Boga’s goal marked his first since his high-profile transfer from Atalanta.
8. Steve Mounie (Brest): Benin international forward, Steve Mounie, emerged as a late-game hero by heading in the winning goal from the bench, sealing Brest’s 1-0 victory over struggling Lyon. This unexpected result propelled the Brittany-based club to the top of the table, ahead of renowned teams like Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco.
9. Morgan Guilavogui (Lens): Guinea’s Morgan Guilavogui made a significant impact as a substitute, netting a late winner for Lens in a thrilling encounter against Toulouse. The match saw last season’s runners-up come from behind to secure a 2-1 victory, marking their first win of the campaign.
African talents continue to dazzle audiences across Europe’s elite leagues, with each player adding their unique flair and skill to the beautiful game.
