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African players in Europe: Superstars Salah, Mane among goals
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, both two-time winners of the African Footballer of the Year award, were among the goals in Europe at the weekend.
Egyptian Salah atoned for several misses by finding the net to lift Liverpool to eighth with a 1-0 Premier League victory over previously unbeaten Manchester City.
Senegalese Mane notched the fourth goal for second-placed Bayern in a 5-0 Bundesliga drubbing of Freiburg.
Here, AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:
ENGLAND
MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)
Salah struck his first league goal since August to kickstart Liverpool’s season. He said he is not giving up on the title despite the Reds being 14 points behind leaders Arsenal. Salah kept his cool with a third opportunity to slot past Ederson after outmuscling Joao Cancelo.
SAID BENRAHMA (West Ham)
Benrahma came off the bench to tee up Declan Rice for West Ham’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Southampton. The Algerian has not started any of the Hammers last five league games, but after scoring in the Europa Conference League in midweek, made his case for more game time with a clever one-two with the England international, who fired into the far corner.
SPAIN
REINILDO MANDAVA (Atletico Madrid)
Were it not for Mozambican left-back Reinildo, Atletico Madrid would have left the San Mames with fewer than the three points they eventually took from their 1-0 triumph over Athletic Bilbao. He made a brilliant block in the last minute to deny Raul Garcia when he was poised to equalise, and although the officials penalised him in the area for handball, VAR confirmed he had blocked another effort with his face and cancelled the penalty.
YASSINE ‘BONO’ BOUNOU (Sevilla)
The Morocco international was key in his team’s 1-0 win at Real Mallorca, making a few excellent saves to keep a clean sheet and earn Jorge Sampaoli his first win as coach.
EL BILAL TOURE (Almeria)
Mali international Toure netted for a second consecutive game, having scored against Rayo Vallecano last week in a 3-1 win. This time his team were beaten at Real Betis by the same scoreline. He took his strike well, slotting home early in the second half.
ITALY
VICTOR OSIMHEN (Napoli)
Out since early September with a thigh injury, Nigerian Osimhen has burst back into the Napoli team with two goals in two substitute appearances, his latest the winner in a 3-2 over Bologna which kept his team top of Serie A.
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (Atalanta)
Another Nigeria attacker made sure Atalanta kept pace with Napoli, Lookman scoring his third goal in as many games which gave his new team a 2-1 win over Sassuolo and continued their best start to a Serie A season.
GERMANY
SADIO MANE (Bayern Munich)
Mane scored his second goal in two games as Bayern thrashed Freiburg 5-0 to rise to second. Mane scored the fourth with an elegant chip over goalkeeper Mark Flekken in the second half, just three days after finding the net in the Champions League against Viktoria Plzen.
FRANCE
NOAH FADIGA (Brest)
The right-back put Brest in front against Nantes only to finish up on the end of a 4-1 defeat. Brest are bottom of Ligue 1 and sacked their coach last week. Fadiga is the son of former Senegal star Khalilou Fadiga.
MOHAMED CAMARA (Monaco)
The all-action Malian midfielder was sent off just 17 minutes into a game against Clermont and without him Monaco managed only a 1-1 draw as their five-game winning run ended. Already due to serve a suspension in Monaco’s next game, Camara now faces an extended spell on the sidelines.
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday arrived in Katsina to receive the remains of the former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in London on Sunday at the age of 82.
Just hours before the burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, heartfelt tributes have continued to pour in from beneficiaries of his many charitable deeds, with many describing him as a man who never turned his back on the needy.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, Aminu Daura, a respected community elder, recalled how Buhari consistently provided foodstuffs during Ramadan for families, friends, widows, and orphans in his hometown.
“He never made noise about it, but many homes had food on their tables during fasting period because of him,” Daura said.
Abdullahi Sani, a physically-challenged man who received a tricycle from the Buhari Foundation in 2021, was overcome with emotion while speaking to NAN.
“I can move around and feed my family today because of Baba Buhari. I pray to Allah to reward him for giving hope to people like me,” he said, in tears.
Hajiya Fatima Yahaya, another resident, remembered Buhari’s acts of kindness during festive seasons.
“Even after he left office, his aides ensured that the usual support still reached us every year. He always remember his people,” she said, referring to his distribution of Sallah rams and food items to indigent families during Eid celebrations.
Other residents of Daura also shared memories of how the late former president quietly paid school fees and medical bills for struggling families, actions rarely publicized.
“Some of us benefited from his silent interventions. He was a true father and a great figure in the society,” said Ali Saidu.
On Monday night, Imams across various mosques in Daura held special Qur’anic recitations, praying for the forgiveness of Buhari’s sins and his eternal peace.
The Chief Imam of Daura Central Mosque, Sheikh Musa Kofar Barau, described Buhari as a humble leader whose legacy of service and compassion would remain alive in the hearts of the people.
Buhari is scheduled to be buried later on Tuesday in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, in line with Islamic rites. The community is bracing to welcome thousands of mourners from across Nigeria and beyond.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco has extended heartfelt condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the family of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, and the entire Nigerian people following Buhari’s death.
In a message of sympathy, the Moroccan monarch described the passing of the former Nigerian leader as a “sad occurrence,” expressing deep sorrow over the loss.
King Mohammed VI hailed Buhari as “an illustrious leader who worked untiringly to serve his country’s best interests and lead his people toward further progress and prosperity.”
He added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the bereaved. I share your grief and want you to know how much I appreciated the working sessions I had with the deceased.”
Reflecting on their bilateral engagements, the king noted that his collaboration with Buhari led to the launch of promising development projects, “ushering a new era grounded in friendship and close cooperation between our two sister nations.”
Tinubu arrives Katsina to receive Buhari’s body for burial
“He Never Turned His Back on the Needy” — Tributes Pour In Ahead of Buhari’s Burial
King Mohammed VI Mourns Buhari, Praises Legacy of Nigeria’s Former Leader
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