Liverpool’s difficult weekend unfolded with a heavy 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield, and Mohamed Salah found himself at the center of growing frustrations. The Egyptian forward has managed four league goals this season, with his most recent coming in the win over Aston Villa on November 1. While he continues searching for rhythm, the Golden Boot race is being dominated by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who sits far ahead with 14 goals. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo leads African scorers with six.
Why Are Key African Players Struggling for Consistency in England?
Salah is coming off a Premier League Golden Boot season where he netted 29 goals, yet this campaign has felt different. Liverpool have slipped to 11th after 12 rounds and already suffered six defeats. The slow start has placed more pressure on their senior players as they attempt to recover form.
Fulham, meanwhile, found impact from the bench through Samuel Chukwueze. The Nigerian delivered a perfectly weighted cross for Raul Jimenez, who scored in the 84th minute to secure a 1-0 win over Sunderland at Craven Cottage. Nigerians Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi also contributed as starters, giving the Cottagers a late spark.
At Burnley, manager Scott Parker introduced South African striker Lyle Foster and Tunisian midfielder Hannibal Mejbri while chasing a narrow deficit against Chelsea. Their energy wasn’t enough, and Chelsea extended the lead late to remain second behind Arsenal. Burnley continue searching for combinations that can help them compete more effectively in tight matches.
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In Germany, Senegal’s Nicolas Jackson made headlines during Bayern Munich’s dramatic 6-2 comeback win over Freiburg. After falling two goals behind, Bayern surged forward with six unanswered strikes. Jackson scored the fifth in the 78th minute, tapping in his second league goal of the campaign and continuing to grow in confidence.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba added another highlight to his standout season. The Burkina Faso defender scored his third goal in seven matches with a towering header during a 3-1 win over Wolfsburg, helping keep Leverkusen’s strong run intact.
In France, Burkina Faso’s Ismaelo Ganiou secured a critical second-half winner for Lens in a 1-0 victory over Strasbourg, pushing the club into third place. His teammate Morgan Guilavogui came on later but earned a red card in added time for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Marseille’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brushed off recent disappointment from 2026 World Cup qualifying by opening the scoring in a dominant 5-1 win over Nice. The result lifted Marseille to second, edging Lens on goal difference.
Rennes also enjoyed a strong performance with Moroccan Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal scoring in the 20th minute to set up a 4-1 victory over Monaco. The win lifted Rennes to sixth, staying narrowly ahead of Monaco in the standings.
Across Europe, African players continue shaping matches with critical moments, although several are still searching for the consistency needed to influence their teams’ long-term form.
By Yockshard Enyendi