Zaha, Daka headline African star performers in Europe

A wide variety of African stars contributed significantly to their respective team’s causes across the top European leagues at the weekend. SuperSport highlights some of the top performers.

• WILFRED ZAHA (IVORY COAST & CRYSTAL PALACE)

Zaha continues to play at talismanic role at Palace, remaining as dangerous option on the left hand side of attack and always looking dangerous with the ball at his feet. It was his quick witted pass that set up the 76th minute winner for Eberechi Eze as Palace snapped a run of four matches without success to come from behind and beat Leeds United 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

• PATSON DAKA (ZAMBIA & LEICESTER CITY)

Daka gave Leicester City the perfect start to Saturday’s Premier League clash at Bournemouth as they sought only their second win of the season but ended up on losing side as his team remain in relegation danger. Daka snapped up a loose clearance with some quick thinking and has now scored three times this season.

• NEESKENS KEBANO (DR CONGO & FULHAM)

Kebano’s run down the left and pass inside to Andreas Pereira handed Fulham a quick lead away at West Ham United on Sunday but it proved in vain as the Hammers came back to win, condemning Fulham to a second successive defeat. Kekano’s nine goals last season played a major role in Fulham winning the Championship.

• ALEX IWOBI (NIGERIA & EVERTON)

Iwobi had his uncle, and SuperSport analyst, Jay-Jay Okocha in the crowd at Goodison on Sunday as he handed Everton the lead with a sumptuous shot from outside the area that beat Manchester United’s David de Gea all ends up. But the night ended in disappointment for the home side as the visitors came back to win the Premier League encounter 2-1.

• ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (NIGERIA & ATALANTA)

For a second successive week, Lookman scored for Serie A frontrunners Atalanta as they opened the scoring away on Sunday against Udinese. Lookman timed his run perfectly to arrive at the back post and steer home a cross from Luis Muriel. But the game ended 2-2 and the dropped points means second placed Atalanta are now two behind leaders Napoli.

• CYRIL DESSERS (NIGERIA & CREMONESE)

Dessers snatched his first goal since arriving in Serie A from Racing Genk in Belgium but it was not enough for the newly promoted Cremonese as they were handed a 4-1 pasting by leaders Napoli in Sunday’s game at the Stadio Giovanni Zinbi. The result left Dessers’ second from bottom with three points from nine games.

• BOULAYE DIA (SENEGAL & SALERNITANA)

Dia netted a dramatic last gasp winner, four minutes into stoppage time at the end of the match against Verona on Sunday, as Salernitana won only their second game of the Serie A season. Dia, who came on for the last 30 minutes, has now scored four times since his pre-season move from Villarreal.

• EL BILAL TOURE (MALI & ALMERIA)

Toure got his first LaLiga goal as Almeria ran rampant in the first half and built up a three-goal lead at home against Rayo Vallecano before settling for a 3-1 truimph. It was only the second start for the 21-year-old Toure, who was signed in a 10-million euro deal from French club Stade Reims on transfer deadline day.

• KALIDOU KOULIBALY (SENEGAL & CHELSEA)

Senegal’s captain stared in defence for a second successive match as Chelsea kept a clean sheet and ran out 3-0 winners over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The stout performance followed a similar scoreline when they beat AC Milan in the Champions League last week and manager Graham Potter will be hoping for much the same at San Siro on Tuesday night.

• MOUCTAR DIAKHABY (GUINEA & VALENCIA)

The tall centre back had gone up for a corner and, when Osasuna failed to clear, pounced on a loose ball to steer home from close range and extend the away side’s lead to 2-0 at Pamplona on Friday night. A night of celebration after his second goal of the season was spoilt, however, as he picked up a second yellow card in the last minute and was sent off.