Dango Ouattara continued his impressive run of form by scoring a second successive match-winning goal as Brentford claimed a dramatic 3–2 victory away to Newcastle United, further underlining the growing influence of African players across Europe’s top leagues.
The 23-year-old Burkina Faso forward struck in the 85th minute at St James’ Park to settle a pulsating Premier League contest in which Brentford both trailed and led before ultimately emerging victorious. The win lifts the Bees to seventh in the table and marks their first success on Tyneside since 1934.
Ouattara had already made a decisive impact the previous weekend, scoring the only goal in a victory over third-placed Aston Villa at Villa Park to dent the Midlands club’s title ambitions.
AFP Sport rounds up the standout contributions from African players across Europe’s major leagues:
DANGO OUATTARA (Brentford) With the match finely balanced at 2–2, Ouattara sealed all three points for the visitors by driving a left-footed effort past Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope. Earlier, the Burkinabe forward had also played a key role in Brentford’s comeback, delivering the cross for Vitaly Janelt’s headed equaliser after the Bees fell behind. His late winner secured a historic victory for Brentford on Tyneside.
BRYAN MBEUMO (Manchester United) Cameroon international Bryan Mbeumo maintained Manchester United’s perfect record under caretaker manager Michael Carrick by opening the scoring in a 2–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. His goal set the tone after Spurs were reduced to 10 men following captain Cristian Romero’s red card, extending United’s winning run under Carrick to four matches.
ISMAILA SARR (Crystal Palace) Crystal Palace ended a 12-match winless streak with a hard-fought 1–0 victory away to rivals Brighton, courtesy of Senegal winger Ismaila Sarr. The decisive goal arrived in the 61st minute after a precise pass from substitute Evann Guessand, the Ivory Coast forward making an immediate impression on his Palace debut following a January loan move from Aston Villa.
LAMECK BANDA (Lecce) Lecce claimed a crucial 2–1 Serie A win over Udinese thanks to a stunning 90th-minute free kick from Zambian winger Lameck Banda. The 25-year-old struck directly from outside the area for his third league goal of the season, lifting Lecce to 17th place — three points clear of the relegation zone.
SERHOU GUIRASSY (Borussia Dortmund) Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy delivered when Dortmund needed him most, sweeping home an 87th-minute winner against Wolfsburg. The goal, his ninth in the Bundesliga this season, followed a slick build-up involving Felix Nmecha and Fabio Silva. Guirassy has now scored or assisted in four of his last five appearances.
RANSFORD KOENIGSDOERFFER (Hamburg) Ghanaian forward Ransford Koenigsdoerffer opened the scoring with a powerful first-half strike as Hamburg secured a 2–0 victory away at Heidenheim — their first away win of the campaign. The goal came in first-half stoppage time after Nigerian winger Philip Otele, on his Hamburg debut, split the defence with a precise through ball.
ISSA SOUMARE (Le Havre) Senegal midfielder Issa Soumare scored the decisive goal in Le Havre’s 2–1 Ligue 1 victory over Strasbourg. Showing sharp awareness inside the box, Soumare collected the ball on the edge of the area and guided it into the far corner while falling, sealing an important home win.
