AFRICANS ABROAD: Gueye saves the day as Kudus helps sink Liverpool

It is getting to that stage of the season where hopes are elevated, and dreams are shattered as clubs look for a strong finish to help them achieve their goals.

African stars have been instrumental in writing the story of Europe’s elite leagues in recent times and that continued again this weekend.

IDRISSA GUEYE (SENEGAL & EVERTON)

It has been a torrid season at Everton, more off the pitch than on it, but their Premier League status for the next campaign was secured through the unlikely figure of Gueye. He has been outstanding for The Toffees in his defensive midfield role, but after scoring in the crucial 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest the previous week, he netted again in the 1-0 success against Brentford that ensured Everton would be safe from relegation. He thundered the ball home after it fell to him in the box. He had not netted a goal at Goodison Park since 2017 but has two in a week as he proved the hero for the Merseyside club. He was also superb in their 2-0 midweek win over Liverpool that turned the city blue.

JEFFREY SCHLUPP (GHANA & CRYSTAL PALACE)

Schlupp secured a point for Palace against their London rivals Fulham as he netted his second of the campaign to go with two assists, and what a beauty it was. It has been a fairly quiet season for the Ghana star, but he came up trumps when his team needed him at Craven Cottage. He collected the ball 30 yards from goal, turned and fired in a powerful shot that crashed into the top corner. It is unlikely there has been a fiercer hit this season. It is certainly one of the goals of the campaign.

MOHAMMED KUDUS (GHANA & WEST HAM)

Liverpool’s title hopes sunk further at the weekend as they were held to a 2-2 draw by West Ham United, and both Arsenal and Manchester City were victorious. Ghana forward Kudus played his part in sinking the Reds as he provided the assist for Jarrod Bowen’s Hammers opener just before halftime. Kudus provided the pinpoint cross and Bowen scored his 20th goal of the campaign in all competitions. It was a fifth assist of the Premier League campaign for Kudus to go with seven goals, for a total of 12 goal contributions.

MARIO LEMINA (GABON & WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS)

It took him 32 games, but Gabon international Lemina finally picked up a first assist of the season to go with four goals when he helped Wolves return to winning ways and claim a 2-1 victory over Luton Town. It was Lemina’s sweeping cross from deep that was headed home on the dive by Toti Gomes to double the home side’s advantage and earn them a first win in eight games.

DANGO OUATTARA (BURKINA FASO & BOURNEMOUTH)

Bournemouth have broken their club record for most points in a Premier League season following a 3-0 victory over Brighton, and Ouattara was on hand to provide an assist for their second goal scored by Enes Ünal. The Burkina Faso star showed great pace to get to the by-line and his looping cross was headed into the back of the net by Ünal. There will perhaps be some relief for Ouattara. He now has a single goal and two assists in 27 games this season (10 starts), and might have hoped to contribute more.

VICTOR OSIMHEN (NIGERIA & NAPOLI)

Nigeria striker Osimhen scored his third goal in four games – this time from the penalty spot – to take his Serie A tally for the season to 14 and give Napoli the lead on 84 minutes at home to Roma. But they could not hold on for the victory and had to settle for a 2-2 draw following a late equaliser for Roma. It leaves the defending champions in ninth place and likely out the running for European football, which will be a major disappointment after the highs of the incredible 2022-23 campaign.

EVAN NDICKA (IVORY COAST & ROMA)

One of those who helped Roma take a point from Napoli was Ivory Coast international Ndicka, who provided the assist for Tammy Abraham’s 88th-minute equaliser. It was the first goal of an injury-plagued Serie A campaign for the Englishman. A cross came in from the left and Ndicka flicked the ball on with his head into the path of Abraham, who netted from close range. It is a third assist of the season for Ndicka, who has yet to find the back of the net himself.

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (NIGERIA & ATALANTA)

Atalanta moved up to sixth in Serie A as they cruised to a comfortable 2-0 home win over Empoli. Lookman sealed their victory with a second goal on 51 minutes to take his tally for the Serie A season to nine, to go with six assists, a total goals contribution of 15. It was a brilliant strike too, he picked up the ball near the halfway line, travelled all the way to the edge of the Empoli box and drilled a low shot into the corner of the net.

ILAIX MORIBA (GUINEA & GETAFE)

Moriba has not been used much by Getafe in the second half of this season after a poor loan at RB Leipzig. This was only his 10th appearance (six starts), but he provided a second assist of the campaign to help his side to a 3-1 win at Almeria. Moriba laid on the first of two goals for Mason Greenwood when he stole the ball off a defender and raced towards goal, unselfishly playing in Greenwood when he might have shot himself. It was a fine piece of anticipation and composure from the 21-year-old former Valencia man.