African players in Europe: Mahrez stars for champions City

Paris (AFP) – Algeria winger and 2016 African Footballer of the Year Riyad Mahrez created the second goal and scored the third for Manchester City as they won a second successive Premier League title. 

He was the stand-out African in Europe at the weekend as star-stacked City triumphed 4-1 at lowly Brighton to pip Liverpool by one point after a thrilling race.

A Mahrez corner allowed Aymeric Laporte to nod City into a 2-1 first-half lead and the north African struck the third goal on 63 minutes to put his side firmly on the path to glory.

ENGLAND

RIYAD MAHREZ (Manchester City)

City dominated the second half at Brighton and with 63 minutes gone the 28-year-old Algerian cut in from the wing and unleashed a right-foot shot that gave his club a 3-1 advantage. France-born Mahrez has two Premier League winners medals having been part of the Leicester City side that sensationally became champions three years ago.

SADIO MANE (Liverpool)

Senegalese Mane scored twice in Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Wolves to earn a share of the Premier League’s Golden Boot award. The Senegal forward, 27, ended the season with 22 league goals, level with teammate and last year’s winner Mohamed Salah of Egypt as Liverpool finished on 97 points, one behind Manchester City.

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Arsenal)

Arsenal forward Aubameyang grabbed a share of the Premier League Golden Boot award with two goals in a 3-1 win at Burnley on the last day of the season. The Gabon forward’s goals meant he finished with 22 in the league — the same number as Mane and Salah.

SPAIN

KARL TOKO EKAMBI (Villarreal)

Ekambi scored his 18th goal of the season to fire Villarreal to a 1-0 win over Eibar in La Liga. The Cameroon forward struck the winner in the 59th minute for his sixth goal in nine matches. Villarreal’s victory leaves them 14th in the table ahead of their last game of the season away to Getafe next weekend.

DJENE DAKONAM (Getafe)

Getafe’s Dakonam scored an own-goal in a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona. The Togolese poked into his own net as Lionel Messi looked to pounce on a one-two with Sergi Roberto at Camp Nou. Arturo Vidal had already put Barca ahead as Getafe slipped out of the top four, with a final game at home to Villarreal to come next weekend.

ITALY

MUSA BARROW (Atalanta)

Gambian international Barrow broke through immediately after being introduced as a substitute at the break. His first goal this season in a 2-1 win over Genoa put Atalanta third in Serie A and close to a first Champions League qualification.