A prolific Wednesday for African goal scorers

By Guillaume Mahot

Salah, Mané, Hakimi, Abraham, Osimhen, Ziyech… African goal scorers were raging last Wednesday. If some are used to it like the Reds from Liverpool, some others experimented the joys of scoring their first goal in the most prestigious European competition.

In particular for Tammy Abraham and Victor Osimhen, who played against each other in the game Lille-Chelsea won 2-1 by the Blues from Franck Lampard. Nigerian striker Osimhen, current best scorer of the French league with six goals, scored his first goal in the European tournament although it did not prevent the Losc from losing a second game consecutively after the Dutch slap (0-3 in Ajax in the first game). 

For Abraham as well, who compelled world champion Olivier Giroud to sit on the bench for an undetermined period, it was a premiere. The youngster scored the first goal of his team and contributed to give a first victory to Chelsea. English native but still eligible to play for the Super Eagles, Abraham is part of these binational players who have two countries and must make a (difficult) choice for their international career.

In this H group, Ajax won 3-0 again, in Valencia this time, with a goal from Moroccan striker Hakim Ziyech. The 2018/2019 semifinalist is beginning this edition on the same standards as last year, even though important elements left (De Ligt, De Jong…).

In the F group, where Barcelona defeated Inter Milan 2-1, the surprise came from the other game in Prague, not the result but the identity of the goal scorer. If we could expect Borussia Dortmund to win against Slavia, what they did (2-0), not many people would have bet on two goals from a right back. Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi scored the two goals and put his squad on top of the group before the Blaugrana at the goal average.

At last, Liverpool won 4-3 against Red Bull Salzburg with, as usual, goals from Sadio Mané (1) and Mohamed Salah (2). Nevertheless, how complicated it was against the modest Austrian team! Leading 3-0 after 36 minutes, the Reds suffered a terrible comeback from Salzburg who made it 3-3 before the saving achievement from Salah (69’). The champions in title will not have anything easy and simple this one year.

Africa Global News Publication