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How African players in the Premier League fared in their WC qualifiers
A wrap of how African players in the Premier League fared in the World Cup Qualifiers.
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Football talents across Europe had offered a little in the new season with their clubs and it was time to serve their respective nations.
The Premier League is where we will zero in and most certainly African players had paid their dues in the first three weeks with their clubs and it was time to show what they have got on the African soil.
The third round of matches for the Africa World Cup qualifiers started on the 31st of August with two games. That was Egypt taken on Uganda away in Kampala with Guinea hosting Libya in Conakry.
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The game between Uganda and Egypt had Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah, Arsenal’s Mohammed Elneny and Ahmed Hegazi playing full 90 minutes as the Pharaohs lost to the Cranes of Uganda. This was not the result the trio would have been looking for going into the Eid festivities the following day.
Liverpool bound Naby Keita was having the day of his life when he was able to go through two players, take ball round the Libyan keeper Nashnoush and finished into the empty net. Keita did have his penalty saved but it would not matter at the long run as his side eventually won 3-2. Naby Keita played 90 minutes in that encounter.
The following day had quite a number of games across Africa for countries looking for their respective places in the Russia 2018 World Cup. Ghana hosted Congo in Kumasi and the Black Stars were held to a 1-1 draw. Leicester’s Daniel Amartey, Crystal Palace’s Jeffrey Schlupp, Newcastle’s Christian Atsu and Swansea’s Jordan Ayew played the full 90 minutes in that game. However, Andre Ayew of West Ham could only contribute for 62 minutes as he was substituted for NAC Breda’s Thomas Agyapong.
Nigeria had a number of Premier League stars of both past and present on the score sheet as they beat neighbors Cameroon 4-0. Odion Ighalo, John Obi-Mikel, Victor Moses and Kelechi Iheanacho scored the four goals. Chelsea’s Victor Moses played for 82 minutes and was changed for Leicester’s Ahmed Musa. Musa’s teammate Kelechi Iheanacho did come from the bench on the 61st minute to score the 4th for Nigeria in the 76th minute.
Watford’s Nordin Amrabat featured for Morocco as the Atlas Lions disposed of Mali by 6-0. He was substituted in the 71st minute.
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The next day had some shock results where we had Premier League players feature. Algeria had Islam Leicester City’s Slimani in action as they travelled to Zambia. The Leicester striker played 90 minutes and was at the receiving end of a 3-1 loss.
Ivory Coast were also at it when Manchester United’s Eric Bailly and Tottenham Hotspur new signing Serge Aurier played the entire regulation time for the Elephants. The former had a yellow card as the 2015 African Champions emphasized dominance by beaten Gabon away by 3-0.
Star Studded Senegal were also held at home by Burkina Faso to a 0-0 draw. Liverpool’s Sadio Mane and Everton’s Idrassa Gana Geuye played 90 minutes whereas West Ham’s Cheikou Kouyate came on in the 89th minute.
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