Completesportsnigeria.com looks back at the past weekend and examines the 11 African stars who were outstanding for their European clubs.
These players have made our African Team of The Week In European Leagues in our preferred 4-4-2 formation.
Presented By IZUCHUKWU OKOSI:
GOAL
VINCENT ENYEAMA
Nigeria’s captain Vincent Enyeama kept his place in our Team of the Week after his first clean sheet over the weekend in France in Lille’s 0-0 draw against Monaco.
Enyeama had 46.4% accuracy in his ball handling and was commanding in the box. The Super Eagles star touched the ball 39 times in the game including two dangerous aerial threats.
DEFENCE
MEHDI BENATIA
Morocco international Mehdi Benatia was exceptional last weekend in Bayern Munich’s 5-0 rout of Hamburger SV.
The central defender scored the Bavarians’ first goal of the game with a header from a Diego Douglas’ cross.
Benatia who previously played for Serie A giants, AS Roma, made a total of 4 tackles, 2 interceptions, 6 clearances, and committed 1 foul.
KENNETH OMERUO
Nigeria’s Kenneth Omeruo had a brilliant game over the weekend as his Turkish Super Lig side, Kasimpasa defeated Gaziantepspor 3-0.
Omeruo was in action for 90 minutes for his team against their opponents that had his compatriot, John Chibuike in action, though Gbenga Arokoyo was not listed.
Omeruo made 2 tackles, 1 interception, 3 clearances and committed 2 fouls.
MOUSTAPHA BAYAL SALL
Senegal’s Moustapha Bayal Sall was one of the best African stars on parade over the weekend and he finds himself deployed in our right-back position.
The 29-year-old was instrumental in Saint Etienne not conceding more goals in their 1-1 draw against Bordeaux.
Sall had 66.7% Pass Accuracy. He made 5 crucial tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 clearances, blocked 2 shots and committed a foul once.
FLORENTIN POGBA
The brother of Juventus star, Paul Pogba, Florentin is an astute defender and was key in the 1-1 draw between Saint Etienne and Bordeaux.
The flamboyant Guinean made 3 interceptions and 5 clearances. He won 3 aerial battles and had 60 touches of the ball.
Pogba had 75% Pass Accuracy and played 1 shot on target.
MIDFIELD
STEPHANE MBIA
Playing at the base of our midfield is Cameroon’s Stephane Mbia.
The former Sevilla defensive midfielder was in action for Trabzonspor last weekend in their 1-0 home win over Bursaspor.
Mbia was one of the holding midfielders playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation for his Turkish side.
He made 1 Key Pass in the game and had 86.4% Pass Accuracy. These are coupled with his 2 aerial balls won and 75 touches he had. Mbia, who can hit the ball hard too, fired 2 shots though just 1 was on target during the game. He had 3 interceptions which broke up plays.
RIYAD MAHREZ
Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez is arguably one of the best players in the Barclays Premier League so far in England.
The midfielder on Saturday scored his second goal of the season in Leicester City’s 2-1 away win over West Ham United, smashing home a wonderful left-footed half volley.
The skilful north African star made 4 defensive tackles and had 75% Pass Accuracy in the game.
HENRI SAIVET
The star of the show in the Saint Etienne versus Bordeaux game over the weekend was winger Henri Saivet.
The Senegalese was Man-of-the-Match in the game that ended 1-1.
Saivet had 73.9% Pass Accuracy and had 79 Touches of the ball in total. One of his 2 shots was on target and he also made 2 Key Passes as Bordeaux, his team chased a second goal.
ANDRE AYEW
Black Stars of Ghana’s Andre Ayew makes our African XI for the second time after scoring his second English Premier League goal for Swansea.
On Saturday, Ayew nodded home one of the Welsh side’s goals in their 2-0 home win over Newcastle United.
The former Olympique Marseille star had 86.7% Pass Accuracy and had 39 touches of the ball.
Ayew played 3 shots on goal but only 1 was on target. He won 2 aerials balls and was a constant threat for the Geordies.
Ayew just edges this spot over Cote d’ Ivoire’s Arouna Kone who played out wide on the right side for Everton in their 3-0 away win over Southampton at the St Marys.
Kone assisted one of Romelu Lukaku’s goal with a delightful cross but Ayew predatory instincts in front of goal gives him this one.
ATTACK
AHMED MUSA
Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa makes our Team of the Week after his goal over the weekend against Spartak Moscow which was his second of the season in the Russian Premier League.
Musa’s strike in the Moscow derby was not all to his game for the Army Men as he had 73.9% Pass Accuracy, had 2 of his shots on target with one of them resulting to his goal. He had 32 touches of the ball and played 1 Key Pass.
SAMUEL ETO’O
Four-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto’O scored a brace in the 50th and 64th minutes for Turkish Super Lig side, Antalyaspor, on Saturday in their 3-2 away win over Istanbul Basaksehir.
Eto’O had a total of 4 Shots in the game, with all of them on target. He also had 70% Pass Accuracy.
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