In the English Premier League, Senegalese forward Oumar Niasse got sent off but ten-man Hull City still kept its survival chances alive by winning 2-0 over Watford.
At the Vitality Stadium, Ben Afobe of DR Congo secured the second goal in AFC Bournemouth’s 4-0 spanking of relegation-zone Middleborough while Ghana’s Jordan Ayew got the nod in the starting lineup for winning side Swansea City against Stoke.
It was an all-Senegalese battle with Diafran Sakho and Cheikh Kouyate of West Ham United going up against Idriss Gana Geuye’s Everton. The tie ended goalless at the London Stadium.
Eric Baily of Ivory Coast stood in the heart of Manchester United’s defense in which he played a starring role as the Red Devils beat Burnley 2-0.
Wilfried Zaha and Ghana’s Jeffrey Schlupp all starred as Crystal Palace shocked Liverpool at the Anfield in a game where Benteke outshone his former club.
Away from the EPL, Yaya Toure and Nigeria’s Iheanacho featured while Alex Iwobi was overlooked in the FA Cup semi-final which featured a series of heated games.
In the end, Ibowi’s Arsenal triumphed over Manchester City to set up a thrilling final with Chelsea. The African pair of Victor Wanyama (Spurs) and Victor Moses (Chelsea) was fielded in the duel but the latter would triumph with the Blues winning 4-2.
Germany
Nigeria’s Leon-Aderemi Balogun came off the substitutes’ bench in the 52nd minute in place of teammate Brosinski as Mainz drew leaders Bayern 2-2 in a four-goal thriller.
Salomon Kalou made it from the starting line-up but later was later replaced in the second period in Hertha BSC’s slender 1-0 win over a faltering Wolfsburg.
Bakary Jatta of Gambia had a second chance in the Bundesliga following his debut last week at home to Werder Bremen. Club fans got a taste of what their much-discussed young player is all about after the 18-year-old joined the fray in the second period but DR Congo’s Wilson Kamavuaka and Darmstadt would triumph 2-1 in the end.
Senegal’s Lamine Sane was pivotal in Werder Bremen’s 4-2 victory over Ingolstadt whereas, at the Stadion Im Borussia-Park, Gabon’s Aubamayeng wasn’t to be left out in the Dortmund-M’gladbach derby with the African getting on the score sheet to register his 27th goal, in 27 games. Dortmund made away with the points narrowly sailing away in with a 3-2 win.
Algeria’s Bentaleb and Guinea’s Naby Deco Keita squared in a clash of midfielders as Schalke and RB Leipzig settled for a 1-1 tie.
Italy
Frank Yannick- Kessie was added to the line-up in Atlanta’s 3-2 victory over Bologna. Elsewhere at the Stadion Artemio, Khouma El Hadjie Babacar of Senegal struck twice to seal the points for Fiorentina against Inter Milan. It was the attacker’s 9th of the season.
Kalidou Koulibally formed part of the Napoli defense that got shipped two goals by Sassoulo as the fixture ended 2-2.
Black Star Emmanuel Agyman-Badu, featured in midfield in Udinese’s 2-1 win over Cagliari.
Uncapped Nigerian-born, Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo was a super-sub for Crotone, scoring the decisive goal as the team swaggered past Sampdoria 2-1.
24-year-old Senegalese forward Mame Baba Thiam, over the weekend, secured his first Serie A goal to claim the winner for Empoli against AC Milan.
Switching to the Stadion Olympico, it was Thiam’s compatriot Balde Diao Keita turning on the act. The swift forward banged in a hat-trick as Lazio breezed past Palermo.
Afriyie Acqyuah of Ghana marshaled the midfield in Torino’s thumping of Chievo Verona.
Kwadwo Asamoah was also on show for Juventus in its 4-0 downing of Genoa.
Spain
Ex-Chelsea wonder kid Gael Kakuta got yet another run in the starting line-up but the DR Congo man was on this occasion on the losing end as Real Sociedad, whipped Deportivo La Coruna.
25-year-old France-born Algerian defender Aissa Mandi was involved throughout in Real Betis’ narrow 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo.
Ghana’s Kevin Prince Boateng grabbed his tenth of the campaign, sealing all points for Las Palmas with his lone goal.
Countryman Thomas Teye Partye was also a crucial inclusion in the Atletico Madrid side that labored past Espanyol by a goal to nothing.
Cederic Bakumbu is steadily marching towards equaling his 12 goals in the previous season as he already clocked eight. The DR Congo forward single-handedly clutched the spoils for Villareal with his brace that was enough to do damage on Leganes.
33-year-old Cameroon star Idriss Carlos Kameni was unmistakably the man between the sticks for Malaga with his heroics denying Valencia.
Steven N’zonzi and Seville slalomed past Agbo Uche’s Granada.
France
Serge Aurier of Ivory Coast got minutes under his belt featuring in his preferred left-back role in PSG’s trouncing of Montpellier.
Cameroon AFCON-winning captain Moukandjo and Ghana’s Abdul Majeed Waris partnered to heap mysteries on Metz with the pair scoring each as Lorient moved little above the danger zone.
Mali’s Cheick Tidane Diabate managed to score a consolation but it wasn’t enough to force a draw for Metz.
Senegal’s Younousse Sankhareh plundered in a decisive effort to keep alive Bordeaux’s hopes of securing a spot to compete in Europe.
Indomitable Lions’ Toko Ekambi scored but his effort proved wholly insufficient as Angers SCO bit the dust to Dijon 3-2.
Morocco’s Yassine Bammou smacked in two goals to win it for Nantes against Caen.
Netherlands
Nigeria’s Imo Fred Friday registered his name on the scoresheet in AZ’s 2-1 triumph over Twente.
At Las Lions, star Zakaria Labyad provided the winner for Utrecht against Roda JC.
Belgium
Teranga Lions’ Kara Mbodji was a rare scorer for Anderlecht on Sunday in the playoff title win over Club Brugge.
Compatriot Amara Baby also netted as Sporting Charleroi beat Zulte-Wargem.
Featured photo: Getty Images
