Majority of African players are with their respective national teams for the Nations Cup. Some, whose countries failed to reach the Gabon finals, still found solace in fulfilling commitments with their domestic European clubs. Below is a round-up of playing stars abroad not at the AFCON.
ENGLAND
Victor Wanyama made it 12 starts in 12 appearances for high-flying Spurs, commanding the midfield in the White Hart Lane side’s 4-0 crushing of West Bromwich Albion.
Benik Tunani Afobe has become a regular at Bournemouth club succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against Hull City. The 23-year-old was called to play for DR Congo but preferred to keep his position at the club, a fairly reasonable choice considering the somewhat unfavorable timing of AFCON games. DR Congo Football Federation initially took offence over Afobe’s failure to turn up but later, decided against taking punitive measures which could have meant FIFA suspending the English-born attacker.
Papis Mison Djilobodji got booked in his 16th start for second-from-bottom Sunderland in a game, Stoke City won 3-1.
Nigeria’s Iwobi was an integral part of the Arsenal side that pounded Swansea City 4-0 at the Liberty Stadium while Ighalo was an unused sub for Watford in the 0-0 tie with Middlesbrough.
Jeffery Schlupp of Ghana made a 9-minute cameo for Palace following his transfer from Leicester but West Ham went on to win 3-0. Feghouli netted the opener in that duel – his first of the season in ten games.
Victor Moses starred for Chelseas as the London club downed Leicester City 3-0. Wilfred Ndidi, the Foxes’ new signing, had a 90-minute run with compatriot Ahmed Musa also starting.
Yaya Toure and Iheanacho got minutes for Manchester City however, their involvement was inconsequential with regards to the score line as Everton, without Idriss Gana-Geuye, mauled City 4-0.
FRANCE
Guinea’s Pogba was the sole African on the bench while Sankare and Benzia, left out by Senegal and Algeria for the AFCON, started for Lille in the 1-1 draw with St Etienne.
Mexer Edson Andre Sitoe of Mozambique formed the nucleus of Rennes’ defense that nearly frustrated PSG, had it not been for Julian Daxler’s decisive lone goal for the capital side.
Veteran Senegal star Issiar Dia banged in his third goal of the campaign, ensuring Nancy beat Bastia. Mostefa, Mali’s Abdoulaye Keita and Guinea’s Sadio Diallo featured for ten-man and losers Bastia.
Abdul Wajeed Waris proved Avram Grant wrong for dropping from the Black Stars’ roster as he scored twice in Lorient’s 3-1 battering of Gunigamp. The ex-Spartak Moscow forward was denied a hat-trick by the referee. The rare win is a relief for bottom-placed Lorient, who’d been on a free fall prior to this latest encounter.
Benin’s duo, Sessgnon and Mounie, along with Senegal’s Soulayeman Camara, all got the nod from the start in Monpillier’s one-all draw with Dijon.
Morocco’s Bamou and Congo Brazavile’s Lloki were vital as Nantes eased past Tolouse 1-0.
Ismael Traore of Ivory Coast scored Anger SCO’s opening goal but the Stade Jean-Bouin outfit let their lead slip when defender Santamria turned the ball into his own net, securing Bordeaux a point.
Elsewhere, Diagne Diallo, from Senegal, played a part as Metz held leaders Nice to a 0-0 score.
ITALY
Sarr, Donsah, M’baye and Okonkwo were unused as Bologna breezed past Crotone 1-0. Nwankwo was the lone African in that Serie A clash, coming on with 13 minutes from time for relegation-threatened, Crotone.
Isaac Cofie is getting a run on games but Genoa would bite the dust 4-1 to Cagliari.
Angola’s Bastos featured as Lazio swept aside Atlanta 2-1.
El Hadji starred from start to finish before being cautioned a minute from game’s end in Empoli’s drab 0-0 encounter with Sampdoria.
Duncan of Ghana climbed off the bench for Sassuolo who ripped off Carlos Embalo’s Palermo 4-1.
Libya’s Ahmed Benali’s involvement for Pescare did not account for much as Napoli won 3-1.
SPAIN
Kevin Prince Boateng and Las Palmas got hammered five by second-placed Barcelona.
Alfred John Momar N’Daye was brought on to help seal the back in Villareal’s 0 – 0 scoreline with Depotivo Lacrouna.
Super Eagles’ Augbo was part of Granada’s line up in the match with Osasuna.
THE NETHERLANDS
Ebuechi from Nigeria and ADD DEN HAAG endured a 2-0 defeat to Heereven.
Angola’s Alfredo Kulembe Ribeiro and Excelsior were humbled by PSV at the Phillips Stadion.
Amrabat suffered a snub after getting sidelined from the Moroccan national team but found consolation at club level, featuring in Utrecht’s spanking of Sparta Rotterdam.
At the Parkstad Limbu Stadion, watched by 14,475 spectators, Ajagun fared but Roda JC still got trounced by Feyenrood.
Hakim Ziyech saw his goal tally soar to five in the ongoing league term. The 23-year-old Moroccan struck twice to race PSV to a comfortable 3-1 lead.
South Africa’s Mokotjo joined the fray 21 minutes from time unlike Yeboah who went ahead to make the lineup for FC Twente but lost 3-1 to Vitesse.
TURKEY
Cameroon-born Leonard Kweuke scored a brace –the opening and closing goals – delivering the points to strugglers Rizespor.
Dame N’Doye is on a stretch of twelve (12) games with a solitary goal to his name so far, not the best of goal returns for a proven goal scorer. The 31-year-old will be missing Tranzspor’s subsequent league schedule for accumulation of yellow cards.
Onazi and Medjani all raked up minutes for winners Tranzspor who beat Bursapor 2-1.
France-born Senegalese international Magaye Gueye opened up the path in Andanaspor’s eventual 2-2 draw, firing in the opening goal.
Cameroon’s Etame poked in his first goal of the season as Antalyaspor beat Gaziantepspor.
Featured photo: Alex Iwobi was one of the African star players last weekend as Arsenal got a convincing 4-0 win over Swansea. (GETTY IMAGES)
