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

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With the return of football after the international break, African stars plying their trade in Europe returned to action for their clubs with bags of mixed results.

Some picked up where they stopped and gave man of the match performances while others could not live up to their high expectations.

Arsenal’s Ghanaian midfielder, Thomas Partey stood out of the bunch when the Gunners took on North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur where he scored a beautiful screamer to put the league leaders ahead.

Partey scored a screamer against Spurs (Photo Credit: Arsenal FC)

Partey scored a screamer against Spurs (Photo Credit: Arsenal FC)

Nigerian star, Alex Iwobi once again, showed Everton fans that his season is no flash in the pan as he was instrumental to Frank Lampard’s men coming back from one goal down to defeat Southampton 2-1.

Apart from action in the EPL, African players were also in action in top European leagues like the Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, Dutch Eredivisie, and the Ligue 1.

Africannewswatch brings you review of some of the good and the bad of African players in Europe last weekend.

Too Good

Thomas Partey – Arsenal

Ghana international, Thomas Partey was the cynosure of all eyes when he returned to action at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal took on their eternal rivals, Tottenham, in a North London derby on Saturday which saw the Gunners thrash the Whites 3-1.

The 29-year-old was on hand to give the Gunners the lead when he curled home an effort from 25 yards which whizzed past Hugo Lloris to nestle in the top corner.

Further goals by Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka sandwiched Harry Kane penalty goal which had cancelled out Partey’s opener, ensuring Arsenal claimed the derby bragging rights.

Interestingly, Arsenal have won every match Partey has featured in this season and his injury-induced absence was felt as Arsenal suffered their only defeat of the season, a 3-1 against Manchester United.

Alex Iwobi – Everton

Nigerian midfield star, Alex Iwobi picked up where he stopped before the international break when he put up another man of the match performance as Everton ran out deserved 2-1 winners away to Southampton.

The Arsenal youth product who scored against Algeria in an international friendly, had his third assist of the season as he had a hand in Everton’s winning the goal scored by Dwight McNeil.

Sadio Mane – Bayern Munich

Sadio Mané ended his goal drought for Bayern Munich in the 4-0 drubbing of Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, after going over six matches without a goal.

The Teranga Lion’s vice captain grabbed the third goal, his fourth in the league, in the one sided match after Leroy Sane and Jamel Musiala had put the Bavarians in front.

The win also ended Bayern’s four match winless run in the Bundesliga.

Inaki Williams was in superb form for Atletico Bilbao(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Inaki Williams was in superb form for Atletico Bilbao(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Inaki Williams – Athletic Bilbao

New Ghana international, Inaki Williams who made his international debut against Brazil during the international break, returned to his club with a goal and an assist Athletic Bilbao defeated UD Almeria 4-0 in a La Liga match on Saturday.

The 28-year-old former Spain youth international celebrated his international call up with the opening goal for Bilbao after he was set up by his brother, Nico Williams, who also set up Oihan Sancet to double Bilbao’s lead.

Inaki then turned provider with a clever assist to brother Nico, who scored the third.

Ademola Lookman – Atalanta

In the Italian Serie A, Nigerian winger, Ademola Lookman was the hero for Atalanta as the pipped Fiorentina 1-0 on m Sunday.

The Nigerian international returned to action after the Algerian friendlies and got the only goal on the hour mark at the Gewiss Stadium, beating Fiorentina goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano with a simple tap in off an assist by Luis Muriel.

Ademola Lookman was the difference for Atalanta (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Ademola Lookman was the difference for Atalanta (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

The goal was Lookman’s second Serie A goal of the 2022-23 campaign.

Too Bad

Taiwo Awoniyi, Emmanuel Dennis – Nottingham Forest

The duo of Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis were at the receiving end when Nottingham Forest suffered a 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Leicester City who grounded out their first EPL win of the season on Monday.

While Awoniyi was on from the start and hit the woodwork in the first half, Dennis was a second half substitute but even his presence could not change The Reds fortunes as they suffered their fifth straight defeat.

Mohammed Kudus – Ajax

Ghana international, Mohammed Kudus could not replicate the form that saw him scoring in three straight Eredivisie matches, as he failed to extend that run of as Go Ahead Eagles held Ajax to a surprise 1-1 draw at home at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Saturday.

Kudus who started from the bench, was brought on by coach Alfred Schreuder for Ghana-eligible Brian Brobbey with seven minutes left on the clock and could not find the target.

Ghana and Agax midfielder, Mohammed Kudus (Photo Credit: Ajax FC)

Ghana and Agax midfielder, Mohammed Kudus (Photo Credit: Ajax FC)

Prior to the fixture, he had scored against Cambuur in a 4-0 win, Heerenveen in the 5-0 victory and the 2-1 defeat against AZ Alkmaar. In between the league matches, he was on target against Rangers and Liverpool in the Champions League.

Samuel Chukwueze – Villarreal

Nigerian winger, Samuel Chukwueze was quite disappointing as Villarreal were held to a 0-0 draw by Cardiz at the Nuevo Mirandilla Stadium where his La Liga goal drought in the 2022-23 La Liga campaign continued.

Chukwueze who was left in the bench for 83 minutes was brought on for his seventh league match of the season as a replacement for Nicolas Jackson, but he put every foot wrong and could not add any impact for the Yellow Submarines .

Sports

Controversy as US-based former Kenyan football star Joseph Asuza commits suicide

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A US-based former Kenyan football star, Joseph Asuza, has reportedly committed suicide in what has been described as tragic circumstances,
sparking controversy.

Asuza, a former FKF Premier League star who played for Red Berets before transitioning to a different career path in the United States where he worked as a security officer with the United Nations, reportedly took his own life by jumping out of a moving vehicle on Sunday afternoon before being crushed to death by another vehicle as he struggled to come to terms with his mother’s recent death.

According to former Harambee Stars striker and Asuza’s close friend, Boniface Ambani, the former star player fondly called “Asuu”, jumped out of a moving cab on Thika Road before an oncoming vehicle crushed him to death.

Ambani said Asuza’s untimely demise comes at a time of profound grief as he was making arrangements for his mother’s burial who had passed away just a week prior due to cardiac arrest.

“Despite being miles away from his homeland, Asuza remained deeply connected to his roots, as evidenced by his swift return upon hearing of his mother’s passing,” Ambani said.

“Asuza was in deep distress as he came to terms with his mothers’ death.

“On Friday evening I paid a courtesy call on his family at Lusui, Chanda Village. He looked so distressed and so disturbed.

“The mum’s death really hit him hard. I gave him company till midnight and we planned to meet the next day, but he told me he is traveling to Nairobi early morning of Saturday to go make arrangements on how the mum’s body would be ferried back home for burial this coming Saturday.

“I told him it’s okay, but asked his young bro to make sure he (Asuu) doesn’t drive. I talked to him in length.

“Asuza and his brother arrived safely on Saturday, but he lost his life the next day

“Asuza accompanied by his younger brother, embarked on the journey to Nairobi early Saturday morning to oversee the arrangements for his mother’s final rites.

“However, the journey ended in an unimaginable tragedy as Asuza’s life was abruptly cut short in a fatal road accident along Thika Road.

“It has taken me a lot of courage since yesterday, to pen this down. Why Asuu? Why? Mum and son gone,” Ambani added, before sending condolences to the family.

“God give this family strength to overcome this…. How do I start tying Rest well bro? How? How? Asuu, Asuu,” he lamented.

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Sports

Kenyan world champion Zablon Ekwam cries out over alleged neglect from govt

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Kenyan World Indoors Championships record holder, Zablon Ekwam, has expressed frustration over alleged neglect of athletes by the government even after performing so well and bringing honour to the country.

Ekwam who recently shattered the African record at the World Indoor Championships held in the UK, expressed his frustration about receiving no recognition from the government even when his performance had put the country on the world map.

Ekwam who spoke to sports journalists on Friday, lamented that they (athletes)
had to put in all the work to bring honour to the country, yet the government has continuously failed to recognise them.

Ekwam said he was particularly frustrated that as he had never been to an indoor championship and breaking an African record is a feat that should be recognised.

At the tournament, the quartet of Ekwam, Wiseman Were, Boniface Mweresa, and Kelvin Tauta shattered an existing African record by clocking an impressive 3:06.71 to finish fourth in the tight race that was won by Team Great Britain with the USA and the Netherlands taking the second and third spots.

Ekwam feels that the hard work the quartet should have been recognised and they should also receive a token of appreciation for the effort.

“Breaking the African record has motivated me; however, the government has not done anything and we have not received any appreciation but we are content with what we did and we ask God to give us more courage,” Ekwam lamented.

“If we are given another chance to run anywhere, we shall continue breaking records because in other countries, when someone breaks a record it’s a big thing.

“Here, people have taken it very lightly and no one is even talking about it but it is okay and we shall continue working hard,” Ekwam said.

He added that as they prepare for the Africa Senior Athletics Championships and the continental tour in South Africa, they hope to continue breaking more records.

He added that if for anything, the fact that the African record had been in place for more than five years and the quartet put in all their effort and shattered it twice in one day was something that the government should have recognized and appreciated.

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