Africans Abroad: Iwobi lights up Fulham, Munetsi off the mark in France

Africa’s top stars have been among the goals and assists this past weekend as we get down to the business end of the season in the leagues across Europe.

Here is a rundown of the top performers and how they fared for their clubs.

ALEX IWOBI (NIGERIA & FULHAM)

Next fixture: Tottenham Hotspur (a)

Fulham kept their hopes of European football next season alive with a 3-1 win at Sunderland, becoming only the second team to win at the Stadium of Light in the League this season. Super Eagles star Iwobi was central to their success with a goal and an assist to see Fulham to the three points.

He laid up the first goal for Raul Jiminiz with a corner that was headed home by the Mexican, before netting the third himself as he took Harry Wilson’s pass and slotted the ball home. That is now three goals and three assists in 21 Premier League appearances this season.

EVANN GUESSAND (IVORY COAST & CRYSTAL PALACE)

Next fixture: Manchester United (a)

It has been a struggle for Crystal Palace of late with the loss of key players and the news that manager Oliver Glasner will leave at the end of the season, but they got back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It ended a run of nine home games without a win that stretched back to November. Guessand scored his first goal since a loan move from Aston Villa, to go with an assist, as he netted from close range in the 90th minute to seal victory and bring relief to Selhurst Park.

MARSHALL MUNETSI (ZIMBABWE & PARIS FC)

Next fixture: Nice (a)

Munetsi left Wolves in January for a loan spell with Paris FC, returning to Ligue 1 where he had enjoyed so much success with Reims. The former Orlando Pirates man opened the scoring for the Parisian club in their 1-1 draw at Toulouse for his first goal back in the division as the side earned a vital point in their bid to stay in the topflight.

They are now six points above the drop-zone. Munetsi took a pass in the box and turned to lift the ball over the goalkeeper from 15 yards. It was his first goal contribution in six matches (two starts) since his return to France.

PAPE GUEYE (SENEGAL & VILLARREAL)

Next fixture: Barcelona (a)

Gueye was both a scorer and provider as Villarreal defeated Valencia 2-1 to remain in third place in LaLiga in what is turning out to be a superb season for the ‘Yellow Submarine’. They had to come from behind though as the visitors opened the scoring, before Gueye’s attacking intent in the final third saw Santi Comesaña equalise.

Villarreal were level just before halftime and Gueye stepped up to convert a penalty for a 2-1 lead they would hold onto in the second half. That is now three goals and an assist got Gueye in 19 appearances (15 starts) in LaLiga this season).

CALEB EKUBAN (GHANA & GENOA)

Next fixture: Inter Milan (a)

Genoa moved six points clear of the relegation zone in Serie A thanks in part to a goal from Ekuban, who helped them to a 3-0 hone win over Torino. It looked a simple goal into an empty net after a shot was parried by the Torino goalkeeper, but he had to stretch and it was one of those where it would have been easy to miss the target too.

It was a third goal of the season for the Ghanian to go with one assist in 21 appearances (four starts) having been used mostly as a bench option this campaign.

EVAN NDICKA (IVORY COAST & ROMA)

Next fixture: Juventus (a)

Defender Ndicka scored his first goal of the season as he helped Champions League-chasing Roma to a comprehensive 3-0 home win over relegation-threatened Cremonese. His side were already 1-0 up when he turned home the ball from a corner after it came through a crowd of players and he reacted quickest.

It was a neat finish and his first goal in Serie A in his 84th appearance since a move from the Bundesliga at the start of the 2023/24 season. He had scored against Nice this season in the Europa League. It was an 11th goal of a professional career that started at Auxerre in 2016/17.

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