African players in Europe: Red-hot Awoniyi strikes again

Taiwo Awoniyi assured Premier League football for Nottingham Forest next season after continuing his hot scoring streak with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Arsenal at the weekend.

The 25-year-old Nigerian has netted five times in his last three appearances, including doubles in a victory over Brighton and a draw against Chelsea.

Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo was another African international in top form, scoring twice for Brentford in a 3-1 London derby triumph over Tottenham.

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

ENGLAND
TAIWO AWONIYI (Nottingham Forest)

The striker fired his team to Premier League safety and handed the title to Manchester City with the winner over Arsenal. Awoniyi scored in the 19th minute at the City Ground, scuffing his finish past goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. It was his 10th goal this season. Forest sit six points clear of the relegation zone with one game left, while second-placed Arsenal can no longer catch champions City.

BRYAN MBEUMO/YOANE WISSA (Brentford)

After Mbeumo scored twice, Democratic Republic of Congo forward Wissa claimed his seventh goal of the season to seal victory at Tottenham. Wissa netted for a second successive game when he struck with a curler in the 88th minute.

SPAIN
NICOLAS JACKSON (Villarreal)

The Senegalese international has been in fine scoring form of late, but turned his hand to creating goals for his teammates as the Yellow Submarine beat Girona 2-1. Jackson sped down the right to create the opening goal for Yeremy Pino in the first half. Then, after the hosts levelled, Jackson sprinted down the left to set up Gerard Moreno for a last-gasp winner that kept Villarreal’s Champions League qualifying hopes alive.

INAKI WILLIAMS (Athletic Bilbao)

The Ghana striker opened the scoring for Ernesto Valverde’s team in their 2-1 win over Celta Vigo by placing a header inside the far post. Later, the forward got the assist for Alex Berenguer’s winner.

GERMANY
SEBASTIEN HALLER (Borussia Dortmund)

Haller struck twice in a 3-0 win at 10-man Augsburg as Borussia climbed above Bayern Munich to top the table with one match remaining. Haller broke the deadlock after 58 minutes, hammering a rebound into the net. Another rebound gave the Ivory Coast international the opportunity to score again with six minutes remaining.

FRANCE
SEKO FOFANA (Lens)

Fofana and Lens continued their outstanding form this season as his late goal secured a 3-1 win at Lorient that all but clinched direct Champions League qualification for the club and delayed Paris Saint-Germain’s title celebrations by at least a week. The Paris-born Ivory Coast midfielder has scored in each of his team’s last three games and has seven altogether for the campaign.

MOSTAFA MOHAMED (Nantes)

The Egypt striker made headlines last week when he refused to play in his team’s 0-0 draw at Toulouse in a protest against an anti-homophobia campaign in Ligue 1. Fined by the club but not suspended, he was named on the bench for the game against Montpellier. Brought on after just five minutes for injured teammate Andy Delort, Mohamed could not prevent Nantes slumping to a 3-0 defeat which leaves them in the relegation zone, one point from safety with just two games remaining.