It's Drogba again as season ends in Europe
Didier Drogba was the standout among African players in Europe at the weekend as the season ended in Europe and all eyes now turn to South Africa for the World Cup.
His second-half strike ensured the league and cup double for
Chelsea and underlined his threat next month on the biggest stage
in football.
ENGLAND
DIDIER DROGBA (Chelsea)
Once again Didier Drogba was the man of the match for Chelsea,
scoring the only goal of the game in the FA Cup final against
Portsmouth at Wembley.
The Ivory Coast striker was on the mark after 59 minutes when
his free kick went in off the post, with goalkeeper David James well
beaten.
It was just reward for a commanding performance from the club's
top scorer, who will head off for the World Cup boosted by his having
helped achieve the league and cup double for the Londoners
AARON MOKOENA (Portsmouth)
The South Africa captain saw his dream of winning silverware
with relegated Portsmouth wrecked by league champions Chelsea, but
his own performance was top notch and will set him up well for the
World Cup.
Mokoena produced two timely blocks to deny Didier Drogba and was
on hand to head clear from a dangerous cross. It was his foul on
Drogda, though, that led to the Chelsea winner.
SPAIN
YAYA TOURE (Barcelona)
Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure played a key role in Barcelona's
retaining the league title on Sunday, setting up both goals for
Lionel Messi in the 4-0 win over Valladolid as Barca won the title
on the final day of the season.
Toure, deputising for the suspended Xavi in midfield, beat two
men before cutting the ball back for Messi's first goal on 61
minutes and the 27-year-old then slid a pass through for the
Argentine to score his second on 75 minutes.
FREDDY KANOUTE (Sevilla)
Mali international striker Kanoute scored his 12th goal of the
season as Sevilla secured fourth place and a Champions League spot
with a last ditch 3-2 win over Almeria on Saturday.
The 32-year-old Kanoute scored the opener for Sevilla on 16
minutes with a downward header from a Jesus Navas cross and played
the whole 90 minutes as Sevilla secured fourth.
MOHAMED TCHITE (Racing Santander)
Burundi striker Tchite scored a crucial brace to help Racing to
a 2-0 win over Sporting Gijon on Sunday, to keep them in the Spanish
top-flight.
Tchite (26) scored either side of the interval (34 min, 54) to
secure victory for Racing, who avoided relegation on the final day
of the season finishing three points above the relegated trio.
ITALY
SAMUEL ETO'O (Inter Milan)
The Cameroon forward had a relatively quiet afternoon in the
champions' 1-0 win away to Siena, but won his first title since
switching from Barcelona a year ago.
Eto'o played mostly wide right of a three-pronged attack but had
very few clear chances himself, as strike partner Diego Milito
scored the all-important winning goal.
The title was the fourth of Eto'o's career, having won three with
Barcelona, and next week he will be aiming for his third Champions
League crown, following two with Barca.
ABDELKADER GHEZZAL (Siena)
Ghezzal put in a hard shift as already-relegated Siena were
beaten 1-0 at home to Inter Milan. Playing in midfield, the Algerian
had more defensive duties than he is used to as Inter dominated the
ball. Ghezzal never really got a sight of goal and spent more time
in his own penalty area than the opposition's.
FRANCE
MAMADOU NIANG (Marseille)
The Senegalese international ended the French league season as
top scorer nationwide with a 40th-minute strike at home from the
penalty spot against relegated Grenoble. It was his 18th of the
campaign and overall his 100th goal in 256 matches in the French
top flight.
Niang once again led the line effectively and, although he will
miss out on the World Cup, he can look forward to action in the
Champions League next season.
Gervinho (Lille)
The Ivory Coast striker concluded an excellent season with a top
performance for Lille, who went down 2-1 at Lorient, meaning that the
northern side failed to qualify for the last Champions League slot.
Gervinho was unlucky on two occasions, once being pulled up for
offside and secondly when he won a penalty for his side only to see
the effort saved. He ended the season with a creditable 13 goals.
