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Four African players who set the UEFA Champion League on fire

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The match day four of the UEFA Champions League proved to be a good day for African players who were involved for their various teams as they came out firing from all cylinders.

Liverpool’s Egyptian striker, Mohamed Salah showed that his troubles in the EPL remains in England as he needed only six minutes, 12 seconds to score a hat trick at the Ibrox as the Reds hammered host Rangers 7-1.

Victor Osimhen (Photo Credit:NFC)

Victor Osimhen (Photo Credit:NFC)

In the process, the Pharaoh captain set a record by scoring the fastest hat-trick in the history of the competition. And he achieved that feat after coming off the bench!

Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen also proved to be a handful as he announced his return from injury to nick a goal in a 4-2 thrashing of hapless Ajax while Sadio Mané once again, showed why Bayern Munich pulled every trick to sign him from Liverpool by bagging two goals again Plazen.

On Tuesday, ex-Gabonese captain scored his second goal in as many matches when he fired Chelsea’s second goal against AC Milan to underscore his importance to the Blues.

Africannewswatch brings you a review of how the African stars performed for their teams.

Victor Osimhen – Napoli

Victor Osimhen came off the bench to score Napoli’s fourth goal as they thrashed Ajax 4-2, his first UCL goal for the Italians as the Parthenopeans go through to the next round with a 100 percent record.

The Nigerian international who had been out with an injury he sustained in match day one against Liverpool, was introduced in the 50th minute for Giacomo Raspadori and got his goal with a minute left on the clock after he drilled the ball past goalkeeper Remko Pasveer.

Victor Osimhen is back with a bang (Photo Credit: Napoli FC)

Victor Osimhen is back with a bang (Photo Credit: Napoli FC)

Aside from his goal, the former Lille forward had three shots on target, one key pass, and won one aerial challenge won.

According to Opta, Osimhen was caught offside on three occasions, contributed 15 touches, had nine passes and a passing accuracy of 77.8 percent in the duration he stayed on the pitch.

Mohamed Salah – Liverpool

Mohammed Salah became an history maker by scoring the fastest-ever
hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League as Liverpool put their EPL woes behind them to rout Rangers of Scotland 7-1 at the Ibrox.

Salah was left on the bench from the start by Jurgen Klopp but came off the bench to score three times in a space of six minutes and 12 seconds, the fastest hat-trick in the history of the competition.

The Egyptian captain is back in his element (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

The Egyptian captain is back in his element (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Salah’s hat-trick obliterated the previous record set by Lyon”s Bafetimbi Gomis, who netted an hat-trick against Dinamo Zagreb in the 2011-12 Champions League group stage in eight minutes.

Salah also required fewer touches to get his goals while all three goals were assisted by the same player, Diogo Jota, another first since 2012.

Sadio Mané – Bayern Munich

Sadio Mané once again, showed his importance for Bayern Munich when he scored once and created one assist as the German champions defeated Viktoria Plzen in Wednesday’s Champions League fixture.

The Senegalese Afcon winner gave an all round performance in the six-goal thriller inside Doosan Arena Plzen, and handed the Bavarians a 10th-minute lead after he was set up by Leon Goretzka.

Sadio Mané is enjoying his time in Bayern Munich (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Sadio Mané is enjoying his time in Bayern Munich (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Apart from the goal, the former Liverpool forward was in an inspiring form with statistics showing he accounted for two shots, two key passes, two aerials won, and one dribble.

The result also guaranteed Bayern a place in the next round with two matches to spare.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Chelsea

Earlier on Tuesday, the former Gabonese captain propelled Chelsea to a 2-0 win over AC Milan to brighten their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage.

Aubameyang scored his second successive UEFA Champions League goal for Chelsea by netting in the 34th minute after Jorgino had given the Blues the lead via a penalty in the 19th minute.

Aubameyang made it two in two for Chelsea (Photo Credit: CFC)

Aubameyang made it two in two for Chelsea (Photo Credit: CFC)

Former Chelsea academy graduate, Fikayo Tomori was the culprit in giving away the penalty for a foul on Merson Mount which also earned him a sending off.

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Ghanaian winger Fatawu out for season with ACL injury

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Ghana and Leicester City winger, Abdul Fatawu, has been ruled out of the rest of the EPL season after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury during Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Angola in a 2025 AFCON match during the international break.

Leicester coach, Steve Cooper, who announced the news on Thursday, said the 20-year-old enterprising player suffered a “serious” knee injury which will see him out for the rest of the season.

“It’s not good, it’s a serious injury,” Cooper said ahead of his side’s home tie against Chelsea on Saturday.

“He’s had an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury that is going to rule him out for the rest of the season. It’s a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is.

“Albeit, it can be quite common in sport and in particular football, but it’s still a serious injury. For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.

“He’s obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.

“It’s only a pause and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case,” the gaffer said.

Fatawu has been a key player for the Foxes, helping them gain promotion last season and has played 11 times for them in the league during the present campaign, scoring two goals.

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SA football legend Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe passes away

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South African football legend, Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe, has passed away at the age of 71 after a long battle with illness.

According to South African media, Moripe lit up the country’s football fields in the 1970s and became a rallying point for football in the country, especially in the apartheid era.

“Moripe, who mesmerised opponents and spectators alike during an injury ravaged career, spent his last years confined to a wheelchair after suffering a stroke, and died at his home on Tuesday at the age of 71,” one media report said.

“Moripe, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players the country has produced by those who saw him play, was called “the god of football”’ by adoring fans during the early 1970s in a nod to his natural talents.

“He was feared by defenders and goalkeepers and his style of play was synonymous with flair, finesse and the golden era of South African football.

“In recent years Moripe was confined to a wheelchair after suffering a mild stroke that was worsened by the effects of a long-term knee injury that stopped his playing career in the late 1980s.

“Throughout his career, Moripe played for the Orlando Pirates and the Pretoria Callies, winning the respect of both teammates and supporters.

“In 2010, the Atteridgeville Super Stadium was renamed the Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium in honor of his noteworthy achievements to South African football. Major football games are still held at this stadium, which now stands as a tribute to his legacy.

“Moripe’s career highlights include leading Pretoria Callies to victory against top clubs and earning the 1973 NPSL Player of the Year and Sportsman of the Year titles.

“He also played internationally for Caroline Hill in Hong Kong and briefly for Orlando Pirates. Persistent knee injuries ended his playing career in the late 1980s.”

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