African players in Europe
23 February 2021 | Sports
Egyptian star Mohamed Salah suffered his first defeat in a Merseyside derby as troubled Liverpool fell 2-0 to arch Premier League rivals Everton at the weekend.
The two-time African Footballer of the Year failed to score for the first time in four games and was accused of diving after a theatrical tumble in a failed attempt to win a free-kick.
Burkinabe Bertrand Traore did manage to score for Aston Villa, but also finished a loser as visiting Leicester City won 2-1.
Here, AFP Sport rounds up the performances of African stars in the major European leagues:
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Everton beat Liverpool for the first time at Anfield since 1999 as Salah endured an evening to forget. Liverpool are now five points adrift of the top four in their bid to rescue Champions League qualification.
Bertrand Traore (Aston Villa)
He scored his sixth goal this season to give Villa hope of a fightback after trailing by two goals at half-time. Traore fired home from close range after Matt Targett's low cross evaded Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Idrissa Doumbia (Huesca)
The Ivorian midfielder helped Huesca win a five-goal thriller with Granada that keeps the team's La Liga survival hopes alive. Doumbia was brought on to protect Huesca's advantage after three goals towards the end of the first half gave them a 3-1 lead. Granada pulled one goal back before the hour but Huesca held on for a 3-2 win.
Franck Kessie (AC Milan)
After Kessie's Milan suffered in a 3-0 derby defeat to Inter, the Ivorian midfielder urged his teammates to get their push for a first title since 2011 back on track next weekend against Roma. "When you lose it hurts, but we have to raise our heads because there are still so many games to go," said Kessie, with Milan trailing leaders Inter by four points.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Nigeria forward Osimhen was hospitalised after losing consciousness following a knock to the head in a 4-2 defeat to Atalanta. The 22-year-old was stretchered off the pitch on 90 minutes after hitting his head on the ground following a challenge from an Atalanta defender.
Musa Barrow (Bologna)
Gambian Barrow had a role in Bologna's goal in a 1-1 draw at Sassuolo, the Atalanta loanee pouncing on a defensive error to pull back for Roberto Soriano to fire in.