African players in Europe: Nigeria’s Bassey, Tella lift clubs with goals

Nigeria centre-back Calvin Bassey marked his first FA Cup match for Fulham by scoring as the Londoners eliminated holders Manchester United at the weekend.

He headed past United and Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana just before half-time in a fifth-round tie at Old Trafford, which Fulham won on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Gambian Yankuba Minteh was another African scorer in the round of 16, equalising for Brighton, who went on to triumph 2-1 at Newcastle United.

Here, AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the FA Cup and major European leagues:

ENGLAND

CALVIN BASSEY (Fulham)

The defender scored as the Cottagers knocked out United 4-3 on penalties. Bassey headed home from close range when Rodrigo Muniz flicked on Andreas Pereira’s corner. Bruno Fernandes equalised in the second half, but Fulham emerged with a place in the quarter-finals after Bernd Leno saved from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee in the shoot-out.

YANKUBA MINTEH (Brighton)

The winger had an eventful return to Newcastle. Minteh was sold by Newcastle to the Seagulls for £30 million ($37 million) in the close season after failing to make a league appearance for Eddie Howe’s men. He gave away a 22nd-minute penalty by fouling Tino Livramento and Alexander Isak netted. But Minteh equalised on the stroke of half-time with his sixth goal this season, hitting a shot that deflected off Kieran Trippier on its way past Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. After both teams had a player sent off, Danny Welbeck scored Brighton’s winner in extra time.

SPAIN

BRAHIM DIAZ (Real Madrid)

Morocco international Diaz started in midfield in place of suspended Jude Bellingham and scored in the 2-1 defeat at Real Betis. The former Manchester City playmaker finished well from close range to put Madrid ahead, but the Spanish champions later threw away their advantage with a sloppy performance. Diaz has two goals in his last six games, with the other coming in the Champions League against Manchester City.

GERMANY

SERHOU GUIRASSY (Borussia Dortmund)

Guirassy broke the deadlock in a 2-0 win at St Pauli. The Guinea international, who scored four goals the week before against Union Berlin, latched on to a Karim Adeyemi assist and tapped home from close range five minutes into the second half.

NATHAN TELLA (Bayer Leverkusen)

In a team featuring budding superstar Florian Wirtz and in-form midfield enforcer Granit Xhaka, Tella is emerging as Leverkusen’s man for the big moments. With Bayer dominant but unable to break through against Eintracht Frankfurt, Tella collected an inch-perfect Xhaka pass and wrong-footed the opposing goalkeeper with a low shot into the left corner. Bayer went on to win 4-1.

FRANCE

AMINE GOUIRI (Marseille)

The Algeria forward continued his brilliant form since signing for Marseille from Rennes in January with the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Nantes. Gouiri now has three goals and three assists in five appearances for Roberto De Zerbi’s side, who sit second in Ligue 1.