The international break gave way to the commencement of European club football this past weekend and African stars were on parade for their clubs. In this latest installment of the African Team of the Week, Completesportsnigeria.com's IZUCHUKWU OKOSI presents the African stars who shone for their clubs.
GOAL
CHARLES ITANDJE
Cameroon goalkeeper Charles Itandje had a great game for Rizespor in their 1-0 away win against Osanlispor on Sunday.
The 33-year-old keeper claimed the ball 59 times and had distribution rate of 50% accuracy. Itandje was also strong in the air.
DEFENCE
NICOLAS NKOLOU
Cameroon international Nicolas Nkolou was one of the best players in Olympique Marseille's 2-0 away win over Saint Etienne in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Though yellow-carded with 16 minutes left on the clock, Nkolou had impressive statistics. Nkolou made one tackle, had six interceptions and made two clearances. He had 90.6% pass accuracy, one aerial contest won and 63 touches of the ball.
KADER MANGANE
Kader Mangane was splendid in Ajaccio's 2-1 away win against Bastia on Sunday.
The Senegalese was dominant in the air as he won five aerial battles and had 54 touches of the ball. Mangane made astonishing 12 clearances, had two tackles and three interceptions.The 32-year-old central defender had 83.3% pass accuracy in the game.
MEHDI BENATIA
Morocco's Mehdi Benatia had a good game in Bayern Munich's 3-1 away win over Schalke on Saturday. The defender who had 110 touches of the ball and 94.9% pass accuracy was a towering figure at the back. He made three tackles, two clearances and two interceptions in a 69-minute display.
FAOUZI GHOULAM
Algeria's Faouzi Ghoulam was in action for Napoli in their 2-1 away win over Hellas Verona on Sunday at the Stadio Marc' Antonio. Playing his 11th Serie A game of the season, the left-back had 64 touches of the ball and had 94.6% pass accuracy. Ghoulam made one vital tackle and one clearance in the game.
MIDFIELD
PAPE DIOP
Senegal's Pape Diop was instrumental in Espanyol's 2-0 win against Malaga at the Power8 Stadium on Saturday. The defensive midfielder was strong in the tackle but his energetic display earned him a yellow card in the 40th minute of the game. Diop made five tackles, two interceptions and three clearances. The defensive midfielder blocked one shot and committed three fouls. Diop had 87% pass accuracy, 61 touches of the ball and won one aerial contest.
STEPHANE SESSEGNON
Benin Republic international Stephane Sessegnon was impressive in West Brom's 2-1 home win against Arsenal at the Hawthorns on Saturday. He played for 61 minutes for the Albions who are 12th in the table. The attacking midfielder had 72.7 % pass accuracy. He was ouled twice and dispossessed twice.
THULANI SERERO
South African Thulani Serero was involved in Ajax's first goal in their 5-1 thrashing of Bartholomew Ogbeche's Cambuur at the Amsterdam Arena. He was substituted in the second half but had an impressive display while he was in action. Serero's statistics show that he had a 92.9% pass accuracy and had 34 touches of the ball.
ANDRE AYEW
Black Stars and Swansea forward Andre Dede Ayew was the Man of the Match in Swansea's 2-2 draw at home at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday. Ayew scored from a cheeky back-heel in the 28th minute which the Bournemouth defenders argued was from an offside position.
The Ghana captain who is one of the nominees for the BBC Africa Player of the Year award played for 90 minutes.
Ayew had one shot on target from three efforts. He had 66.7% pass accuracy and had 42 touches of the ball. He won three aerial contests.
ATTACK
ISAAC SUCCESS
Nigeria's Isaac Success scored Granada's second goal in their 2-0 win over Athletico Bilbao in the La Liga on Sunday. Success had 30 touches of the ball, 58.8% pass accuracy, made one key pass and his shot on target led to the goal he scored.
The 59th minute goal was Success' third of the season. The former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles striker beats off competition from Cameroon's Benjamin Moukandjo who has scored the most clear cut chances in Ligue 1 this season, with 10 to his credit.
His Nigerian compatriot Uche Agbo was an unused substitute in the game.
SAMUEL ETO'O
Former African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto'o was the Man of the Match in Antalyaspor's 3-3 away draw against Galatasary on Saturday at the Turk Telecom Stadium. Eto'o scored from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute and assisted another.
Two of Eto'o four shots were on target. He made two key passes and had 42 touches of the ball in the course of the game. Eto'o completed 32 passes in the game which was 78.1% accurate.
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