Iheanacho, Kone shine in the FA Cup
Several African-born players produced match-winning performances for their teams in the world’s oldest football competition, the FA Cup, at the weekend.
The 19-year-old Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho scored the second goal in Manchester City’s 3-0 away win to Norwich City. It was teenager Iheanacho’s fifth goal of the season. The 19-year-old scored in the 31st minute, steering a shot into the bottom-right corner from strike partner Sergio Aguero’s pass.
And for Everton, 32-year-old Ivorian Arouna Koné was on the mark for Everton, scoring the first goal in their 2-0 victory over Dagenham and Redbridge at Goodison Park. Kone broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute with a closerange header from Bryan Ovideo’s right-wing free-kick.
In the Championship Division of England, Gambian debutant Mustapha Carayol opened the scoring with a blistering strike as Leeds booked their place in round four with a 2-0 victory over fellow Championship side Rotherham United. Carayol’s Senegalese team-mate Souleymane Doukara put the seal on Leeds’s win in the 90th minute following a defensive mix-up.
In France Rachid Ghezzal of Algeria nabbed an outstanding goal for Lyon and there was a brace for Congolese international Cedric Bakambu for Sporting Lisbon. There was also success for Congo striker John Tshibumbu of Gazelec Ajaccio. He scored the second goal for a 2-0 lead at Monaco before being pegged back for 2-2.
In Spain, Congolese striker Cedrik Bakambu, of Villarreal, struck twice to take his tally in his debut season in Spain to 12 as Villarreal beat Sporting Gijon 2-0 to register their sixth consecutive La Liga win.
Guinean winger Lass Bangoura came off the bench for Raylo Vallecano to set up Pablo Hernandez’s consolation goal as Rayo slipped deeper into relegation trouble with a 2-1 defeat at Levante.
In Italy, Lazio’s Senegalese striker Keita Balde was given a rare start and broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time away to title challengers Fiorentina, beating them 3-1. – African News Agency (ANA)