Villarreal coach Quique Setién hailed Nigeria winger Samuel Chukwueze as an “extraordinary player” after his two goals powered the team to a thrilling 3‑2 victory over Real Madrid in their La Liga clash last weekend. “For a few weeks now he has been giving us a lot. He is a permanent threat, not just in goals, but in passes, chances,” Setién said. Villarreal sit fifth in the table, four points behind Real Sociedad with ten matches left, while the top four remain locked in the race for Champions League qualification.
Below are ten African headline‑makers who have shone in Europe’s major leagues.
**England**
*Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace)* – The Ghanaian forward scored twice as Roy Hodgson’s side thrashed fellow strugglers Leeds 5‑1. After a season‑long drought, Ayew opened the scoring with a 53rd‑minute header to put Palace 2‑1 up and later added a close‑range finish for the fifth goal.
*Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)* – The Egyptian star sparked Liverpool’s comeback in a dramatic 2‑2 draw with league leaders Arsenal at Anfield, netting after Jordan Henderson’s miscued shot in the 42nd minute. Salah later missed a penalty that could have equalised, but Liverpool still secured a point thanks to a Roberto Firmino header.
*Bertrand Traoré (Aston Villa)* – The Burkina Faso winger scored in consecutive games, helping Villa to a 2‑0 win over Nottingham Forest that lifted them to sixth place. He opened the scoring in the 48th minute, firing home from eight yards after a midweek strike at Leicester.
**Spain**
*Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal)* – Continuing his superb form, the Nigerian winger netted a brace to earn Villarreal a 3‑2 win at Real Madrid. He levelled the match at 1‑1 with dazzling footwork to evade Nacho Fernández, then supplied a low pass for the second goal before curling home the winner.
*Ez Abde (Osasuna)* – On loan from Barcelona, the Moroccan forward delivered a sensational performance as Osasuna came from behind to beat Elche 2‑1, scoring both second‑half goals. His first arrived via a deflected shot into the corner; the second was a curled effort from the edge of the box.
*Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)* – The Ghanaian striker ended a 13‑game league drought by blasting home against Espanyol in Bilbao’s 2‑1 victory.
*Youssef En‑Nesyri (Sevilla)* – The Moroccan striker added an impressive header in Sevilla’s 2‑2 draw with Celta Vigo, extending his recent rich run of four goals in six league games.
**Italy**
*M’Bala Nzola (Spezia)* – The Angola forward scored his 13th Serie A goal to secure a 1‑1 draw at Fiorentina, who arrived on a nine‑match winning streak. With Spezia only four points above the relegation zone, Nzola’s fitness will be crucial to their survival hopes.
**Germany**
*Ellyes Skhiri (Cologne)* – The Tunisian defender opened the scoring in Cologne’s 3‑1 victory over Augsburg, marking his sixth league goal of the season and making him the club’s top scorer.
*Sadio Mané (Bayern Munich)* – Given his first start under new manager Thomas Tuchel, the Senegalese forward impressed as he continued his recovery from a leg injury that kept him out of the 2022 World Cup. Although he has not scored for Bayern since October, Mané came close with two chances as Bayern secured a 1‑0 win at Freiburg.
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