African players in Europe: Semenyo scores as City rout Liverpool

Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo scored the third goal as Manchester City hammered Liverpool 4-0 at the weekend in a high-profile FA Cup quarter-final.

Since a January move from Bournemouth, the 26-year-old has netted eight times for City, who will face Southampton in the semi-finals.

“I feel there’s so much aspiration, so many goals that we want to achieve this season,” said Semenyo.

AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:

ENGLAND

ANTOINE SEMENYO (Manchester City)

Semenyo netted in the 50th minute. He raced onto Rayan Cherki’s pass and chipped over Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. “There’s more to come and just have to keep going. Every game’s the final now, so we just have to keep pushing and see what happens,” he said.

MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

The Egypt forward missed a penalty in the thrashing at Manchester City. Liverpool were already trailing by four goals when Salah’s second-half spot-kick was saved by City ‘keeper James Trafford. It was the latest disappointment in a miserable season for Salah, who was playing his first match for the Reds since announcing he will leave Anfield at the end of the season, ending an iconic nine-year spell with Liverpool featuring Premier League and Champions League glory.

SPAIN

ILAIX MORIBA (Celta Vigo)

Former Barcelona midfielder Moriba helped his team come from behind to secure a 3-2 win at Valencia, netting the first of his team’s goals early in the second half. Moriba stayed sharp to turn home from close range, before adding an assist for Williot Swedberg to cap off a good display.

RANDY NTEKA (Rayo Vallecano)

Angola international Nteka earned a vital 1-0 win for Vallecano over Elche with a poacher’s finish, sticking out his long leg and diverting a low cross home at the near post with 15 minutes to go. It was a fine time to score his first goal of the season for his club, against a rival in the relegation dog-fight.

GERMANY

EDMOND TAPSOBA (Bayer Leverkusen)

Leverkusen defender Tapsoba’s incredible form in front of goal this season continued when he scored from close range in a wild 6-3 home win over Wolfsburg. With scores locked at 3-3 midway through the second half, the Burkina Faso international was on the spot to poke in a rebounded Alejandro Grimaldo cross to put the hosts in front. Before this season, Tapsoba had not scored in the league since January 2023. He now has five goals, the most of any central defender in the Bundesliga.

IBRAHIM MAZA (Bayer Leverkusen)

Berlin-born Algeria midfielder Maza played a crucial role as Bayer came from 3-1 down to win and pick up crucial points in the race for European football next season. A constant danger in midfield, Maza won an early penalty to help Leverkusen equalise. After Tapsoba scored, the 20-year-old claimed Leverkusen’s fifth goal to put the result beyond doubt.

FRANCE

MARSHALL MUNETSI (Paris FC)

Zimbabwe international Munetsi scored after 74 minutes to earn Paris FC a 1-1 Ligue 1 away draw after Senegalese Bamba Dieng had put Lorient ahead in the second half. Munetsi nodded the ball into the net after Lorient goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo parried a cross. The midfielder is on loan from Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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