Sports
African Scorers In Europe: Manucho Scores, Sees Red In Spain
It was a red card filled day for African players in Europe at the weekend following a harvest of red by three of them.
Angola’s Manucho saw red in Spain, Ivory Coast’s Cheick Tiote and South Africa’s Steven Pienaar were also sent off in England.
However, 28 African players registered their names on the score sheets across Europe, albeit, Demba Ba scored against his team.
SPAIN
In Spain Angola striker Manucho scored the opener in the ninth minute for Real Valladolid away to Malaga but his early jubilation was spoiled when he was sent off on 81 minutes, and his side lost 2-1.
Morocco striker Youssef El-Arabi pulled a goal back for 10-man Granada but his side still went down 2-1 at home to Real Zaragoza.
NETHERLANDS
Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony became top scorer in the Dutch top-flight at the weekend after his two goals for Vitesse Arnhem helped his side to secure all three points in the 3-0 win over NAC Breda.
Zambia striker Jacob Mulenga secured the points for Utrecht with his 40th-minute goal as his side came from behind to beat ADO Den Haag 2-1.
FRANCE
League holders Montpellier continue to struggle after losing 2-1 to Rennes. Morocco midfielder Younes Belhanda scored in the 69th minute from the penalty spot for Montpellier. Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun had given Rennes a 13th-minute lead.
Vincent Aboubakar scored twice in the last 10 minutes for Valenciennes who crushed Lorient 6-1. The Cameroon striker had only been on the pitch as a substitute for two minutes when he scored his first goal of the season in the 81st minute before helping to finish the rout in the last minute.
GERMANY
Karim Matmour gave Eintracht Frankfurt the lead in the fifth minute as they strolled to a 3-1 win over Hannover ’96. It was the Algeria midfielder’s first goal in the Bundesliga this season.
UKRAINE
Nigeria striker Issy Lucky Idaho scored the vita third goal for Zorya who picked up all three points by beating Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 3-2.
GREECE
The Greek league’s top scorer Rafik Djebbour from Algeria took his tally to eight goals after scoring twice at the weekend for Olympiakos who dismissed Xanthi 4-0.
RUSSIA
Anzhi Makhachkala maintained their lead at the top of the table after coming from behind to beat Spartak Moscow 2-1. Anzhi equalised through their Ivory Coast striker Lacina Traore who came on as a second-half substitute to level in the 64th minute.
Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa continued his fine form after scoring his fifth goal of the season for CSKA Moscow in their 2-0 win over Rubin Kazan.
BELGIUM
Ebrahima Ibou Sawaneh became the top scorer in the league after his hat-trick inspired Leuven from a goal down to a 4-1 win over Club Bruges. The Gambia striker, who has 11 goals this season, scored twice in the first half and completing his hat-trick in the 78th minute from the penalty spot. Leuven’s fourth goal came through their Zimbabwe midfielder Ovidy Karuru.
Morocco midfielder Moustapha Oussala scored the only goal of the game as his side Kortrijk edged out Gent to move to fourth position in the standings.
Lokeren won 3-0 away at Zulte-Waregem with the Tunisia striker Hamdi Harbaoui scoring the third goal in the 81st minute.
Mechelen played the last three minutes with 10 men after the Cameroon defender Antonio Ghomsi was sent-off, but they still beat Cercle Bruges 2-1 with Ghana midfielder Abdul-Yakinu Iddi scoring the opening goal.
Cameroon striker Aloys Nong scored twice in the last two minutes for Mons who came from behind to beat Standard Liege 3-1. Gambia striker Mustapha Jarju had equalised for Mons in the 34th minute.
TURKEY
There were plenty of African goal scorers in the game between Antalyaspor and Sivasspor. Nigeria’s Isaac Promise scored twice, while two other goals by Senegal striker Lamine Diatta and Morocco midfielder Ismail Aissati gave Antalya a 4-2 victory. Sivasspor’s Nigeria striker Michael Eneramo scored one of the goals for his side in the 48th minute.
Senegal striker Moussa Sow equalised for Fenerbahce in the 23rd minute in his side’s 1-1 draw with Bursaspor.
Another Senegalese, Diomansy Kamara, scored twice for Eskisehirspor who outclassed Karabukspor 5-2.
ENGLAND
Malian Modibo Maiga was on target for West Ham, helping his side to beat their fellow Premier League newcomers 4-1. Maiga, whose two other goals since his pre-season transfer came in the League Cup, had only been on the pitch five minutes when he beat three Southampton defenders with a fine run before curling his shot past Artur Boruc.
There was misery for two of Newcastle’s Africans involved in the 1-1 draw at Sunderland and Newcastle. Ivory Coast Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote was sent off mid-way through the first half for crunching into Steven Fletcher with his foot high. Senegal striker Demba Ba scored an own goal late on, deflected John O’Shea’s header into his own net, to hand Sunderland a share of the points.
Everton’s South African midfielder Steven Pienaar was another to see red. The former Bafana Bafana captain was dismissed for two bookings in the second half of a 1-1 draw at QPR. Pienaar ‘s second booking was for a trip on Jose Bosingwa, a decision which Everton boss David Moyes called “ludicrous”.
SCOTLAND
Kenyan striker Victor Mugabe Wanyama scored twice in the space of six minutes to help Celtic beat St Mirren 5-0. Nigeria defender Efe Ambrose also scored in the game as Celtic led 4-0 at half-time.
The Nigerian, who arrived in China fresh from winning gold at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana earlier on Wednesday, clocked a season’s best of 12.41s behind Olympic champion Masai Russell and Bahamian star Devynne Charlton.
Russell produced a dominant display to win the race in a meeting record and world-leading time of 12.25s, improving on her previous world lead of 12.40s.
Charlton, the reigning world indoor champion, finished second in 12.38s in one of her strongest outdoor performances to date.
Amusan, whose world record of 12.12s remains the fastest time ever run in the event, improved significantly from her previous season’s best of 12.84s set during her victorious outing at the African Championships in Accra.
The 29-year-old was competing in a stacked field that included reigning world champion Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland, Jamaican pair Megan Simmonds and Ackera Nugent, China’s Wu Yanni and Americans Tonea Marshall and Danielle Williams.
Kambundji, who won the world title in Tokyo last year with a Swiss record 12.24s, finished fifth in 12.82s, while Jamaica’s Nugent placed sixth in 12.98s.
Marshall and Williams failed to finish the race.
Following Amusan’s victory in Accra, the three-time Diamond League final winner expressed gratitude to her supporters while insisting she remained determined to achieve more success this season.
“Beyond grateful to God, my team, supporters, and everyone who continues to believe in me through every season. Historic feeling. Still hungry for more. The mission continues,”
The 10-time African champions are scheduled to take on the Teranga Lionesses on June 5 and 8 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, in what will form a key part of their build-up to July’s continental tournament.
The fixtures were confirmed on social media platform X by Super Falcons Show, which announced the details of the encounter and venue.
“Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will take on Senegal Women’s National Team in a double-header international friendly scheduled for June 5 and 8,” the post read.
“Both matches will be played in Ikenne, Nigeria.”
The friendlies come after Nigeria’s proposed training tour of the United Kingdom, which included a planned match against Jamaica, was cancelled due to scheduling complications linked to FIFA’s official women’s international window. The timing meant clubs would not have been obliged to release players.
With that tour shelved, the Senegal fixtures now offer a timely opportunity for coach Justine Madugu and his technical team to assess squad options, test tactical systems and strengthen team cohesion ahead of the WAFCON campaign and longer-term qualification targets for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Senegal are expected to provide a competitive regional test, with their physical style and disciplined organisation likely to offer Nigeria a different tactical challenge across both matches.
The Super Falcons, who have dominated African women’s football for decades, will be aiming to use the double-header to fine-tune preparations as they pursue another continental title in Morocco next year.
Dr Bojuwoye, a seasoned medical professional with extensive experience in road running events across Nigeria, is expected to bring added value to the race through his expertise.
As medical director, his responsibilities will include overseeing emergency medical response, coordinating first aid stations along the course, ensuring athlete safety, and supervising medical volunteers and paramedics.
His role is critical in safeguarding the health of both elite and recreational runners, as well as spectators.
In addition to unveiling its new medical director, the organisers also announced five corporate partners for the 2026 edition.
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Petralon Energy, Razzl Drink, Dan Oil, and Carloha Motors have joined as sponsors, reflecting the race’s growing appeal across diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The Okpekpe race, organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing Company, has steadily risen in prominence since becoming the first road race in Nigeria to earn World Athletics label status in 2015.
It has since advanced to Gold Label Race status, attracting elite athletes from around the world and cementing its reputation as one of Africa’s benchmark road-running competitions.
Edo State, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebolo, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the race, citing its role in promoting tourism, community pride, and international recognition for the region.
Race Director Zack Amodu noted that the new partnerships underscore the event’s stature and its impact beyond sport.
We are delighted to welcome DBN, Petralon, Razzl, and Carloha Motors as partners for the 11th edition. Their support, alongside the backing of Edo State, not only strengthens the race but also reinforces its role as a platform for promoting excellence, youth empowerment, and community development,’ Amodu said.
Beyond its sporting significance, the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has become a catalyst for social, health, and economic benefits.
It encourages fitness and healthy lifestyles, fosters social cohesion by bringing communities together, and generates economic activity through tourism, hospitality, and local commerce.
The event also showcases Edo State’s cultural vibrancy while contributing to Nigeria’s growing reputation in global athletics.
The 11th edition is expected to draw elite athletes, local participants, and international attention, further consolidating Nigeria’s place on the global athletics calendar.
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