Africans Overseas: Mbeumo and Diao Shine with Brace Goals, Sissoko and Uche Shown Red Cards

Over the weekend, two African players showcased their scoring prowess with two goals each, while another pair faced early exits due to red cards, highlighting the thrilling highs and challenging lows experienced by the continent’s football stars abroad.

England

Bryan Mbeumo found the back of the net twice as Brentford triumphed over Brighton and Hove Albion in an exhilarating Premier League clash.

The Cameroon international struck once in each half, playing a crucial role in the Bees’ return to winning form during the six-goal spectacle at London’s Gtech Community Stadium.

Mbeumo opened the scoring just 10 minutes into the match, finishing past Bart Verbruggen, but the Seagulls equalised just before half-time through a well-placed header from Danny Welbeck.

Three minutes after the break, Mbeumo netted his second, curling a stunning shot into the bottom corner for his 18th goal of the 2024-25 season.

Ten minutes later, he turned facilitator, assisting DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa as the London side secured all three points, climbing to 11th on the table with 46 points.

In another fixture, Nigerian talent Ethan Nwaneri added his name to the scoresheet as Arsenal cruised to a 4-0 victory against Ipswich Town.

With Leandro Trossard scoring twice and Gabriel Martinelli adding another, the Gunners established a commanding lead over their 10-man opponents.

Nwaneri, who replaced Bukayo Saka in the 57th minute, sealed the deal with a late goal at Portman Road.

Meanwhile, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji made his Premier League debut, coming on for Trossard with just four minutes remaining.

At Craven Cottage, Alex Iwobi scored his ninth league goal of the season, though it wasn’t enough to prevent Fulham from succumbing to Chelsea 2-1 at home.

The Cottagers started brightly, with Iwobi giving them the lead after 20 minutes, converting a cross from Ryan Sessegnon as he outpaced Reece James in the box.

However, late strikes from Tyrique George and Pedro Neto turned the tide, allowing the Blues to secure all three points as they strive for a position in the next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Italy

Assane Diao starred for Como, scoring two goals in their convincing 3-0 away victory over Lecce, extending their winning streak to three matches.

Following a narrow 1-0 win against Torino, manager Cesc Fabregas led his team to the Stadio Ettore Giardiniero with confidence.

Diao opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, courtesy of a pass from Argentine midfielder Nico Paz.

Defender Edoardo Goldaniga added a second for Como in the 84th minute, before Diao completed his brace with a final-minute goal, assisted by Gabriel Strefezza.

Germany

Serhou Guirassy continued his remarkable form, scoring as Borussia Dortmund emerged victorious with a thrilling 3-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga.

The Guinean striker’s well-executed goal was vital in securing three points at Signal Iduna Park, helping maintain Dortmund’s hopes for a top-four finish as the race for Champions League spots heats up.

Bochum suffered a setback in their quest for crucial points, enduring a narrow 1-0 loss to Werder Bremen, compounded by a late red card for midfielder Ibrahima Sissoko.

In a tightly contested match at Weserstadion, a well-placed goal from Bremen mid-second half proved decisive. Bochum struggled to find their flow, exacerbated by Sissoko’s reckless challenge that saw him sent off.

Despite a late effort, Bochum couldn’t penetrate Bremen’s defence, resulting in another disappointing outing near the end of the Bundesliga season.

Spain

Getafe faced disappointment at the RCDE Stadium, narrowly losing 1-0 to Espanyol, where Nigerian international Christantus Uche was shown a red card shortly after the hour mark.

The match was finely poised until Uche’s dismissal for a rash challenge left Getafe a man down as they sought an equaliser.

Espanyol took advantage of their numerical supremacy to maintain their lead with composure.

This loss dealt a blow to Getafe’s ambitions of mid-table stability.

On a positive note for Valencia, Umar Sadiq played the role of match hero, rescuing a point with a well-timed equaliser in their 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano.

The Nigerian forward delivered a calm finish midway through the second half, offsetting Rayo’s early lead and showcasing his increasing importance to the team.