Flying start for Premier League’s African contingent
Barely ten weeks since what for a moment looked like a down-to-the-wire contest for English football supremacy petered out into a win-at-a-canter for José Mourinho’s Chelsea, the Barclays Premier League is back, and early signs are that Africa could become the new ‘go-to’ place for talent on a budget.
Ten of the goals registered in match day one of the Premier League were scored by African players; shading the seven (including an own goal) that were scored by British players; two from Irishmen; six from continental Europeans; and five (including an own goal) from South or Central Americans.
Algerian Riyad Mahrez topped the scoring charts and can claim have been the Premier League’s leading scorer for 48 hours with his brace in Leicester City’s convincing 4-2 defeat of Sunderland at the King Power Stadium on Saturday. That was until Côte d’Ivoire’s Yaya Touré netted two in Manchester City’s Monday night clash with West Brom at The Hawthorns.
At the Emirates’ Stadium in north London, Senegal’s Cheikhou Kouyaté stunned Arsenal with West Ham United’s first in a 2-0 win made even more surprising because the Hammers can have barely recovered from a hard-fought Europa League qualifier second leg on Thursday.
Fellow Senegalese, Papiss Cissé, scored Newcastle’s late first half equaliser up at St James’s Park, before his team took the lead just after the break. Sadly, the Magpies could not hold on and it was Southampton that had the final say in a 2-2 stalemate.
On Merseyside, Côte d’Ivoire’s Arouna Koné scored Everton’s second equaliser – sparing the Toffees the ignominy of going down to newly promoted Watford, who had Nigerian Odion Ighabo to thank for restoring their one goal advantage in a game that also ended 2-2.
Back in London, champions Chelsea’s early lead was soon pegged back by Swansea new boy, Ghana’s André Ayew, in yet another game that ended honours even at 2-2.
Finally, Ivorian-born England international Wilfred Zaha started Crystal Palace on their way to a 3-1 away win over promoted Norwich City in a game that could have hinged on a contentious disallowed goal from the Canaries when the score was 2-1.
So, an altogether good weekend for African players, many of whom have been enjoying substantial success in other European leagues for years.
Constrained by finances, clubs in the lower divisions patently got the message many seasons ago and have reaped rewards from their adventures in many cases. The transfer window remains open until the end of August, leaving plenty of time for clubs to offer opportunities to players from our previously maligned continent.
