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Too Good, Too Bad: How African stars performed in Europe last weekend

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The last weekend was a mixed bag for African soccer stars in their various European clubs with some of them churning out superlative performances while some could not live up to expectations.

Across different leagues in England, the Bundesliga, La Liga, the Belgian Jupiler League, the Serie A and even the EFL Championship, African players strutted their stuff and Africannewswatch brings you a review of the continent’s best and worse performers of the last weekend.

Too Good

Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal/Egypt)

Arsenal and Egyptian midfield star, Mohamed Elneny tops the Too Good list after he helped the Gunners maintain her unbeaten run in the English Premier League and remain top of the table with a 2-1 defeat of Fulham on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Egypt international made the matchday squad as a replacement for Ghanaian star Thomas Partey who picked up a thigh injury during the warm up.

Mohamed Elneny points the way forward as Arsenal romped to a 2-1 victory over Fulham (Photo Credit: Arsenal FC)

Mohamed Elneny points the way forward as Arsenal romped to a 2-1 victory over Fulham (Photo Credit: Arsenal FC)

Elneny lived up to what was expected of him as he did not disappoint by putting up a solid display to help the team come from behind to beat their opponents following an Aleksandar Mitrovic goal.

Elneny put up a man of the match display as goals from captain Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Meghalaes to put the Cottagers to the sword.

The mercurial midfielder successfully completed 50 passes, 98 percent of them accurate, including 54 touches and with Partey still sidelined, could be in line for another start when Arsenal welcome Aston Villa on Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium.

Brian Brobbey (Ajax/Ghana)

Brian Brobbey gave his chances of breaking into the Ghanaian team a huge lift when he led Ajax to a comfortable 2-0 victory against Utrecht at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Sunday in their Eredivisie fixture.

After strike partner Steven Berghuis had put the perennial Dutch champions ahead, the 20-year-old Brobbey got the second goal for the home side shortly after.

The Ghanaian prospect who has scored two goals from four appearances with two assists, after opening his goal account in Ajax’s of 3-2 victory against Fortuna Sittard on August 6.

Albert Adomah (Queens Park Rangers/Ghana)

Albert Adomah was the star for Qyeens Park Rangers as he scored in a decisive goal as QPR defeated Watford in their EFL Championship game played at the Vicarage Road on Saturday.

The 34-year-old Black Star international who previously played for Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, has featured in every game for QPR in this campaign, snatched a late winner as QPR handed Watford its first defeat of the season to stun the vociferous home crowd

Joseph Paintsil (Genk/Ghana)

Another Ghanaian international who made the Too Good list was ageless John Paintsil who scored one goal and provided an assist as Genk trounced RFC Seraing 4-0 in a Belgian Jupiler League fixture on Saturday.

John Psintsil was at his best last weekend (Photo Credit:Getty Images)

John Psintsil was at his best last weekend (Photo Credit:Getty Images)

Mike Tresor Ndayishimiye had opened the scores for Genk after receiving a split pass from Paintsil before the Black Star grabbed the second of the night in the fixture played at the Stade du Pairay.

So far, Paintsil has scored three goals from six appearances with two assists. He scored his first two goals against AS Eupen on August 6 when he grabbed a brace in a 4-2 victory.

Too Bad

Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich/Senegal)

After a blistering start for his new club, the Senegalese forward had a game to forget as Bayern Munich managed to hold Borussia Monchengladbach to a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Though Mane had a goal disallowed after he hit the back of the net in the 35th minute after connecting a cross from Thomas Muller, but the goal was ruled out for offside after referee Daniel Schlager reviewed the build-up using VAR.

The former Liverpool star was subbed off for Serge Gnabry in the 68th minute after he could not replicate the form that has seen him score three goals for his Bundesliga club.

Edouard Mendy (Chelsea/Senegal)

The Senegalese safe hands also makes the Too Bad list yet again as he failed to keep a clean sheet as Chelsea managed to defeat Leicester City 2-1 at the Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

After his calamitous howler against Leeds United the previous week, Mendy failed to be as stellar as he has always been in the past as Harvey Barnes breached his net in the 66th minute after Raheem Sterling had grabbed a brace.

Mendy is no longer at his best for Chelsea *Photo Credit: Chelsea FC)

Since the new season kicked off, the Afcon winner has managed only one clean sheet which came in the 1-0 victory against Everton at Goodison Park on the first day of the season.

Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace/Ghana)

Jordan Ayew endured a frustrating afternoon as Manchester City came from two goals down to thrash Crystal Palace 4-2 courtesy of an Erling Haaland’s hat trick on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.

Patrick Vieira ‘s men had raced into a 2-0 lead by half-time after an own goal from John Stones and a header from Joachim Andersen the Citizens roared back and turned the match on its head in the second half through Bernardo Silva and Haaland to complete the comeback.

Jordan Ayew had a weekend to forget at the Etihad  (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Jordan Ayew had a weekend to forget at the Etihad (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Ayew was saved from his myseries in the 74th minute when he was replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta.

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Zambian FA boss, Gen.Sec arrested over alleged laundering of K341,902

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President of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), Andrew Kamanga, has been arrested along with the Secretary-General and two other persons over an alleged money laundering running into K341,902.

The country’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), which made the arrest, said in a statement on Tuesday through its Assistant Public Relations Officer, Sydney Katongo, that Kamanga was jointly charged with FAZ General-Secretary, Reuben Kamanga.

Katongo named the other individuals arrested as Madalitso Kamanga and Jailous Siame, residing in Woodlands Chalala and Mumbwa Road respectively, and will be jointly charged on several offenses including obtaining money by false pretenses.

The DEC spokesman said other offenses were obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretense and conspiracy to defraud government.

“DEC investigations revealed that the suspects while acting together, obtained K341, 902.00 from the Government of the Republic of Zambia under false pretenses,” Katongo said in the statement.

He stated that money was purportedly allocated as allowances for Madalitso Kamanga and Jairous Siame to attend the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), however, the allowances were transferred into their personal accounts with Madalitso and Jairous getting K170, 951, while they also individually obtained return tickets valued at K99,980.

“It was discovered that the funds were disbursed to two individuals under the guise of being FAZ officials, necessitating their attendance with the advance party for AFCON,” Katongo said.

He added that investigations revealed that neither Madalitso nor Jairous held official or executive positions within FAZ.

“This fraudulent activity transpired between January, 1 and February, 15, 2024, coinciding with the dates of the Africa Cup of Nations held in Ivory Coast from January, 13, to February, 11, 2024.

“The suspects are currently finalising bond processes and will appear in court soon. The DEC underscores its unwavering commitment to combating money laundering offenses within Zambia,” Katongo assured.

“The Commission will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in money laundering schemes, ensuring accountability and justice for all,” Katongo added.

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Sports

South African club admits they can’t keep Nwabali

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Chairman of South African club side, Chippa United, Siviwe ‘Chippa’ Mpengesi, has given up on retaining the services of Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, who is now the subject of transfer speculations among top European and Asian clubs.

Mpengesi, in an interview with Idiski Times, admits the club has given up hopes of keeping their safe hands with the transfer talks gaining momentum.

He stated that the SA club is currently in talks with a few clubs abroad and will not hold Nwabali back should a good offer arrive.

“We are talking to a few clubs abroad. We also believe that he needs something better, especially after the performance that he showed at the Afcon,” the club chairman said.

“If the opportunity comes especially from abroad, of course even if it comes locally and the offer is for him, it’s not even for us. If the offer for him is better then we are not going to hold on to him.”

Mpengesi further underlined the club’s commitment to facilitating the player’s progression, whether it be through opportunities abroad or within the local Premier Soccer League.

There have been reports of interest in the Nigerian keeper from clubs in Europe following his sterling performances with Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup Of Nations in Ivory Coast where he led the Eagles to the silver medal.

After the Afcon tournament where he emerged as the second best keeper, there have been interest in his services from English side Queens Park Rangers and Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq, and Mpengesi affirms Chippa United’s willingness to engage with both local and international suitors vying for Nwabali’s services.

Apart from clubs from abroad, there are also interest from local clubs including Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns and the chairman has conceded that Chippa will not stand in Nwabali’s path should the right offer comes.

Nwabali, a former Katsina United shot stopper in the Nigerian Premier League, is also being touted as a possible replacement for South African international keeper, Itumeleng Khune, whose future at Kaizer Chiefs looks uncertain.

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