By AFP
Published: 08:57 EST, 16 December 2024 | Updated: 08:57 EST, 16 December 2024
Match-winner Amad Diallo reacts to a dramatic Manchester derby victory for United
Ivorian Amad Diallo took just 115 seconds to transform Manchester United into 2-1 winners at Manchester City in a dramatic Premier League derby at the weekend.
When Diallo was fouled, Bruno Fernandes levelled off the resultant penalty. The 22-year-old from Abidjan then scored the 90th-minute winner at the Etihad Stadium.
He has been the standout player for mid-table United since new Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim arrived at Old Trafford last month.
Here, AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:
ENGLAND
AMAD DIALLO (Manchester United)
United captain Fernandes called Diallo "unstoppable" after his contributions in a stunning end to the Manchester showdown. "I think there is still a lot to come from him because we really believe in his qualities," he told Sky Sports.
ISMAILA SARR (Crystal Palace)
Senegal forward Sarr scored twice as Crystal Palace beat Brighton 3-1 to move four points clear of the relegation zone. Sarr headed in Tyrick Mitchell's cross in the first half and raced clear to score his second on the counter-attack in the 82nd minute.
PAPE SARR (Tottenham Hotspur)
Sarr struck the fourth goal in Tottenham's 5-0 romp at Southampton. The 22-year-old Senegal midfielder sidestepped defender Nathan Wood to slot home in the 25th minute, and send some miserable home fans heading for the exits.
BRYAN MBEUMO (Brentford)
Cameroon winger Mbeumo scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season in a 2-1 defeat at high-flying Chelsea. The 25-year-old finished coolly after bursting through the home side's defence in the 90th minute but it proved too little too late for the visitors, whose terrible away form continued. Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson scored the second Chelsea goal.
SPAIN
ABDUL MUMIN (Rayo Vallecano)
Ghana defender Mumin scored in Rayo's entertaining 3-3 draw against Spanish champions Real Madrid. The centre-back rose highest to nod home from a corner in the first half to earn his team a two-goal lead. It was Mumin's second goal of a solid campaign with the Madrid minnows, whom he joined in 2022.
GERMANY
IBRAHIMA SISSOKO (VfL Bochum)
Bochum midfielder Sissoko's goal, his first of the season, set his side up for a 1-1 draw at Union Berlin. Bochum were reduced to 10 men with Koji Miyoshi's 13th-minute red card, but Sissoko headed his side in front 10 minutes later.
FRANCE
ACHRAF HAKIMI (Paris Saint-Germain)
The Moroccan star is among the nominees for the African men's player of the year award, which will be handed out at a ceremony in Marrakesh on Monday. On Sunday he captained Paris Saint-Germain in their 3-1 win over Lyon which allowed them to extend their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to seven points. Hakimi also had to plead with home supporters to stop singing derogatory chants during the second half after play was briefly stopped due to the nature of the songs.
ABDALLAH SIMA (Brest)
The Senegal international forward, on loan at Brest from Brighton and Hove Albion of the Premier League, came off the bench to score two late goals in his side's 4-1 win over Nantes. That result completed a fine week for the Brittany club after they beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 in the Champions League to stay on course for a place in the last 16 of that competition. Sima is Brest's top scorer this season with six goals despite being hampered by injury problems.