African players are lighting up pitches across Europe, and this series is dedicated to showcasing their brilliance. From FA Cup semi-final heroics to record-breaking feats, here are the players who made the biggest impact this past week:
Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace)
The FA Cup semi-final saw Crystal Palace take on Aston Villa, and amidst a star-studded game, it was Ismaila Sarr who stole the show. The Senegalese winger was involved in all three goals during Palace’s 3-0 win, assisting Eberechi Eze’s opener before scoring the second and third goals. A masterclass performance that booked Palace’s spot in the final.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)
Victor Osimhen continues to dominate. With a goal and assist in a 5-1 win over Eyupspor, he’s now racked up 22 goals and 5 assists in the league this season. His goal showcased his athleticism, plucking the ball from the sky and reacting quickest to slot in after his first attempt was blocked. Galatasaray now lead Fenerbahce by five points with five games left. Osimhen’s stock keeps rising ahead of a big summer.
Ashleigh Plumptre (Al-Ittihad Ladies)
Super Falcons captain Ashleigh Plumptre delivered a stellar display, scoring twice and assisting twice in Al-Ittihad’s 6-0 win over Eastern Flames. A leader from the back, her consistent contributions in both defence and attack have been vital this season.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)
Serhou Guirassy was once again decisive for Dortmund, scoring and assisting in a thrilling 3-2 win over Hoffenheim. After opening the scoring, he missed a penalty but bounced back to assist Waldemar Anton’s 95th-minute winner, a clutch performance in a dramatic finish.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mo Salah has had a dry spell in recent weeks, but on the day Liverpool were going to seal the title, everything pointed to a Salah goal, and we got just that. The Egyptian scored the fourth goal in the 5-1 demolition of Tottenham, moving past Sergio Agüero into fifth place on the all-time Premier League goalscorers list with 185 goals. Salah also cemented his place as the highest-scoring international player in Premier League history.
