Game Changers of the Week

African players are lighting up pitches across Europe, and this series is dedicated to celebrating their standout performances.
The past week saw some standout performances. From title-chasing Liverpool to relegation-battlers Southampton, here are the players who made a difference for their clubs.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Liverpool’s title charge took them to the Vitality Stadium to face an in-form Bournemouth side in what had the makings of a tricky fixture. But when the Reds need a hero, they turn to one man, Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian talisman delivered yet again, scoring in both halves to secure a 2-0 win for Liverpool. Those goals not only kept Liverpool in the title race but also lifted Salah to 6th on the all-time Premier League goalscorers list with 178 goals, the only African in the top 20.
In what could be his final season at Anfield, every moment with Salah feels even more special. He’s already a legend, let’s cherish his greatness while we still can.
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen)

Victor Boniface has been in the headlines recently. The Nigerian forward was reportedly set to join Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia before the move fell apart, with the club opting for Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran instead.
But Boniface didn’t let the transfer saga affect him. Fresh from injury, he marked his return in style, scoring early in the first half to set Bayer Leverkusen on their way to a 3-1 victory over Hoffenheim.
With Xabi Alonso’s men chasing trophies on all fronts, Boniface’s return could be crucial in their quest.
Joe Aribo & Paul Onuachu (Southampton)

Southampton’s struggles this season have been well-documented, but against Ipswich, they finally had something to celebrate—only their second league win of the season.
And at the heart of it? Two Nigerians. Joe Aribo scored the equalizer, while Paul Onuachu grabbed the winner in a much-needed 2-1 victory.

Aribo is now Southampton’s top league goalscorer with 3 goals, while Onuachu has 2 goals to his name. It may not be enough to save Southampton from relegation, but at least, for one weekend, Saints fans had a reason to smile.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)

At this point, it’s common knowledge: Serhou Guirassy scores goals.
Fresh off a brace against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, the Guinean striker continued his fine form by opening the scoring for Borussia Dortmund in their clash against Heidenheim.
Guirassy now sits joint top-scorer in the Champions League (9 goals) and has already bagged 9 goals in the Bundesliga.