Africans Overseas: Salah Matches Aguero’s Record as Lookman, Sissoko, and Sadiq Score

As has become customary, Mohamed Salah once again shone as one of Africa’s leading talents in Europe over the weekend, netting two goals against Southampton.

England

Liverpool boosted their aspirations for the Premier League title with a convincing 3-1 victory over Southampton, where Mohamed Salah found the net twice.

Darwin Nunez equalised following Will Smallbone’s initial goal, and the Egyptian forward scored two penalties to secure the win for the Reds.

This performance saw Salah match Sergio Aguero’s tally of 184 goals, placing him joint-fifth in the Premier League’s all-time scoring list.

At Selhurst Park, Ismaila Sarr emerged as Crystal Palace’s standout player, leading them to a narrow 1-0 triumph over Ipswich Town.

With just eight minutes remaining, the Senegalese forward netted the solitary goal in a fiercely contested match, marking his seventh goal of the 2024-25 season.

This win elevated the Eagles to 11th in the standings, while the newly promoted Ipswich slipped to 18th, having mustered only 17 points from 25 games.

Meanwhile, Marshall Munetsi scored his first Premier League goal, ensuring Wolves escaped with a 1-1 draw against Everton. The Zimbabwean equalised after Jack Harrison had put the Toffees ahead in the 30th minute at Molineux Stadium.

Another African striker finding the net in England’s top flight was Pape Matar Sarr, who contributed to Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-2 stalemate against Bournemouth.

Despite Bournemouth taking a two-goal advantage through Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson, the Senegalese forward ignited a comeback by scoring in the 67th minute. Captain Son then rounded off the comeback by converting a penalty with just six minutes left to play.

Italy

Maxwell Cornet ensured that Genoa secured a 1-1 draw against Cagliari in their Serie A clash with a well-executed goal.

Still feeling the sting of their previous 1-1 draw with Empoli, they arrived at Unipol Domus aiming to get back to winning ways, but it was the hosts who drew first blood via Nicolas Viola in the 18th minute.

However, Cornet levelled the scores in the 47th minute, taking advantage of an assist from Caleb Ekuban.

Former Senegalese international Keita Balde managed to score for Monza, but it was not enough to prevent a 3-2 loss to Inter Milan.

Balde netted Monza’s second goal in a thrilling five-goal contest, but the league leaders rallied to clinch a noteworthy comeback victory.

In another Italian encounter, reigning African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman continued his stellar form, contributing a goal in Atalanta’s 4-0 demolition of Juventus.

With contributions from Mateo Retegui, Davide Zappacosta, and Marten de Roon giving Gian Piero Gasperini’s side a commanding 3-0 lead at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Lookman sealed victory with a fourth goal in the 77th minute.

This result kept Atalanta firmly in the title race, although Inter Milan and Napoli remain at the top in first and second place, respectively.

Germany

Wolfsburg ended up level at 1-1 against FC St. Pauli on Bundesliga Matchday 25.

Siebe van der Heyden opened the scoring for the visitors in the 38th minute, but Algerian star Mohammed Amoura equalised with a penalty for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side in the 70th minute at the Volkswagen Arena.

This outcome leaves Wolfsburg in seventh position in the Bundesliga, accumulating 38 points from 25 matches.

Elsewhere, Ibrahima Sissoko found the net as Bochum pulled off a stunning 3-2 win against ten-man Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

The hosts looked comfortable early on, with Raphael Guerreiro netting a brace to give Vincent Kompany’s team a two-goal cushion within the first half. However, a dramatic fightback saw the visitors secure a memorable win.

Jakov Medic pulled one back for Bochum in the 31st minute, before Mali’s Ibrahima Sissoko equalised in the 51st minute. Matus Bero then capped off the comeback with a goal in the 71st minute.

Spain

Valencia’s Umar Sadiq continued his impressive scoring run in La Liga, netting the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory against Real Valladolid at Mestalla Stadium.

With this latest strike, Sadiq has scored four goals from his four shots on target in La Liga since February 1, achieving the highest conversion rate in the competition with a perfect 100%.