Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Egypt joined a select club this past weekend when he began the scoring in a 3-1 Premier League victory over West Ham United.
After David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero, and Erling Haaland, he became just the sixth player to either score or assist a goal in each of his team’s first six league games in a season.
African athletes making headlines in the top European leagues are highlighted below by AFP Sport:
ENGLAND
SALAH, MOHAMED (Liverpool)
His fourth goal of the year helped second-placed Liverpool defeat West Ham 3-1 at Anfield. Salah successfully executed a penalty kick in the 16th minute after being fouled by Nayef Aguerd of Morocco.
Everton’s ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE
With a 3-1 victory against Brentford, the Mali midfielder’s outstanding goal helped Everton earn its first league victory of the year and escape the relegation zone. After only six minutes, Doucoure scored on a half-volley.
SPAIN
Athletic Bilbao’s INAKI WILLIAMS
After 18 minutes, the Ghanaian international opened the scoring in Athletic’s 2-0 LaLiga victory over Alaves when he was passed through on goal following a deft run in behind the defense. The striker blew a great opportunity to add to his score as he sliced a left-footed attempt off-target despite being in a prime position.
GERMANY
(Bayern Munich) ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO-MOTING
In Bayern’s 7-0 Bundesliga thrashing of mediocre Bochum, Choupo-Moting scored the game’s first goal after only four minutes. In his first league start, the Cameroonian international tapped in his first goal of the year.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface
In a 4-1 victory over promoted Heidenheim, Boniface extended his brilliant start with Leverkusen by scoring another brace. The Nigerian scored from a penalty kick in the second half after smashing the ball home to give Bayer an early lead.
(Stuttgart) SERHOU GUIRASSY
Another African who scored twice in Stuttgart’s 3-1 victory against Darmstadt was Guirassy. The international player for Guinea scored with a shot and a dink to bring his season total of goals scored from five games to 10.
FRANCE
JERMEY BOGA (Good)
The Ivory Coast winger, who was born in France, came off the bench to give Nice a 1-0 victory against local rivals Monaco in Ligue 1 after Folarin Balogun had two penalties saved for the home club. The 26-year-old’s first goal since leaving Atalanta for a sizable sum of money over the offseason.
(Brest) STEVE MOUNIE
Brest defeated struggling Lyon 1-0 thanks to the striker from Benin who came on as a substitute and scored the game-winning goal. As a consequence, the underdog Brittany club now leads the standings by one point over Nice and two over both Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain.
MR. MORGAN GUILAVOGUI
Guilavogui, a standout off the bench for Guinea, scored the winning goal for Lens against Toulouse after coming in as a replacement. The runners-up from the previous season rallied from behind to win 2-1 and record their first victory of the year.
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