Discover each week a selection of the 11 best African players playing in the main European football championships. This week, it was Clermont goalkeeper Mory Diaw who particularly stood out with 10 saves made during his team’s draw against PSG (0-0).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Mory Diaw (Senegal – Clermont)
Accustomed to seeing his former players shine against him, Paris Saint-Germain experienced it once again on Saturday in Clermont (0-0): dominant, Kylian Mbappé’s partners continued to score on Mory Diaw, the Senegalese international goalkeeper from Auvergnats. With ten stops, the giant (1m97) with an atypical career path disgusted his training club.
His parades, in particular in front of Ousmane Dembélé (19th), Kylian Mbappé (33rd), or Gonçalo Ramos (81st) earned him many compliments. “Mory Diaw had a great match,” greeted Clermont coach Pascal Gastien after the match. It’s the first time this season that we haven’t conceded a goal and it’s against Paris Saint-Germain. Football is sometimes paradoxical. » Will the Senegal coach, Aliou Cissé, who made him his number 2, now prefer him to Edouard Mendy in the Teranga Lions goal? Some voices are being raised in this direction.
The 11 African guy of the week (4/4/2)
Goalkeeper: Mory Diaw (Senegal – Clermont)
Accustomed to seeing his former players shine against him, Paris Saint-Germain experienced it once again on Saturday in Clermont (0-0): dominant, Kylian Mbappé’s partners continued to score on Mory Diaw, the Senegalese international goalkeeper from Auvergnats. With ten stops, the giant (1m97) with an atypical career path disgusted his training club.
Right side: Cheick Oumar Konaté (Mali – Clermont)
Scorer the previous week in Le Havre, Cheick Oumar Konaté did not score on Saturday against PSG (0-0), the fault of a reflex from Donnaruma, but nonetheless managed a first-rate performance, with multiple defensive climbs and returns in his right lane. Former resident of the Jean-Marc Guillou Academy in Bamako, this small size reveals itself a year after his arrival in Auvergne.
Central defender: Yunis Abdelhamid (Morocco – Reims)
Like a great vintage, Yunis Abdelhamid gives the impression of getting better with the years. This week, the Reims captain delivered two very consistent performances, punctuated by a goal from the surface against Lyon (2-0). Intractable in the air and precise in throws, the 36-year-old was recalled to the national team last month after an eclipse of almost three years.
Central defender: Alexander Djiku (Ghana – Fenerbahçe)
Alexander Djiku is leading the way with an invincible Fenerbahçe at the top of the Süper Lig (7 wins in 7 matches). Author on Thursday against Basaksehir (4-0) of his first goal of the season with a nice cross volley, the former Strasbourg player contributes to the full score of Stambouliotes who have been impervious for three matches.
Left side: Mohamed Abdallah (Comoros – Lausanne-Ouchy)
Stade Lausanne-Ouchy, Petit Poucet of the Swiss Super League, can count on its Comorian international Mohamed Abdallah (20 caps with the Cœlacanthes). Lined up in the left lane, the former Olympique de Marseille player kept good guard and contributed to a great victory (0-3) on the pitch of a FC Basel in full decline.
Right attacking midfielder: Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal – Marseille)
It only took around thirty seconds for Iliman Ndiaye to open his account with Olympique de Marseille on Saturday in Monaco. A decisive passer subsequently inspired, the former Sheffield United player had to give up his place, injured, at the start of the second half to Moroccan Amine Harit and helplessly watched his team’s defeat.
Central midfielder: Pathé Ciss (Senegal – Rayo Vallecano)
Highly in demand last summer, Pathé Ciss ended up staying at Rayo Vallecano. His start to the year tends to prove him right, and the former Diambars Institute shone this week against Cadiz (0-0), with a designation as man of the match. A brilliant performance which earned him a second consecutive start against Mallorca (2-2) for the first time this season.
Central midfielder: Marshall Munetsi (Zimbabwe – Reims)
Two matches this week and two good reasons to single out Marshall Munetsi. Double decisive passer in Lille (2-1) Tuesday evening in a shifted match, the former Orlando Pirates shone again during the reception of Lyon on Sunday. With a powerful header, the Zimbabwean international, solid defensively and fair with the ball, allows his team to take the advantage just before the break.
Left attacking midfielder: Loïc Lapoussin (Madagascar – Union Saint-Gilloise)
With a masterful strike into the top corner, Loïc Lapoussin delivered Union Saint-Gilloise in the final seconds of a high-tension derby against Molenbeek (2-3). “A derby is not played, it is won,” recalled the Malagasy international, who returned to the national team last month after being temporarily removed from Barea for indiscipline.
Leading striker: Akor Adams (Nigeria – Montpellier)
Akor Adams gave the full measure of his effectiveness on the field of Lorient (0-3) on Sunday. Always quick to rush into the depths, the Nigerian striker scored twice and could have added an assist to his tally if Wahbi Khazri had been as precise as him, already the author of 5 goals from his first 8 shots on target in Ligue 1 since his arrival from Lillestrom this summer.
Leading striker: Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco – Olympiakos)
Discreetly but surely, Ayoub El Kaabi scores goals with Olympiakos like everywhere he has played previously. The Moroccan striker scored twice in the victory against Aris Salonika (4-1) this Wednesday. The double CHAN winner with the local Atlas Lions has already scored 9 goals with his new club.