Osimhen, Doucouré, Tissoudali, Paintsil, Sarfo, Diabaté, Sakala, Aboukhal... During the last weekend of May, as almost all the European leagues drew to a close, a number of African players scored sometimes decisive goals.
Everton stayed up in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth on matchday 38. Malian striker Abdoulaye Doucouré was on target for the Toffees. Southampton (20th) ended their season with a prolific 4-4 draw against Liverpool, Ghanaian Kamaldeen Sulemana scoring twice. Nottingham Forest (16th) drew at Crystal Palace thanks to Nigerian Taiwo Awoniyi. In France (matchday 37), Clermont (8th) dominated Lorient (2-0) with a goal from Tunisian Saïf-Eddine Khaoui. Toulouse (12th) and Auxerre (6th) drew 1-1. Morocco's Zakaria Aboukhal scored for the Violets, while Madagascar's Rayan Raveloson opened the scoring for Auxerre. Marseille (3rd) lost at home to Brest (1-2) despite an equaliser from Congolese (DRC) Chancel Mbemba.
In Italy (matchday 37), Napoli (1st) earned another point at Bologna (2-2), thanks to a brace from Nigerian Victor Osimhen. Nigeria's William Troost-Ekong helped Salernitana (15th) beat Udinese (3-2), while Ivorian Yann Karamoh scored Torino's last goal (8th) against La Spezia (4-0).
In Belgium, Genk beat FC Brugge 3-1 in the play-off for the title (matchday 5), thanks in particular to a brace from Ghanaian Joseph Paintsil. In the play-offs for a place in the Europa League Conference (matchday 5), La Gantoise beat Westerlo 3-1, with a goal from Moroccan Tarek Tissoudali.
In Scotland (matchday 38), Glasgow Rangers (2nd) easily beat Saint-Mirren (3-0), with a brace from Zambian Fashion Sakala. In Portugal (matchday 34), Estoril (14th) beat Maritimo 3-1, with a goal from Nigerian Yusuf Bamidele. The Congolese Gaius Makouta scored one of Boavista's four goals (9th) against Chaves (4-1).
In Austria (matchday 31), Linz ASK (3rd) got the better of Austria Vienna (3-1) with a goal from Nigerian Moses Usor. Guinea's Yadaly Diaby earned Lustenau (8th) a 1-1 draw at Altach.
In Armenia (Matchday 34), Van (5th) beat Shirak (3-0) with a goal from Nigeria's Christopher Boniface. In Azerbaijan (matchday 36), Guinea-Bissau's Toni Correia Gomes scored one of Zira's (5th) three goals in Sumqayit (3-0), while Qarabag (1st) beat Turan (3-1) with a goal from Cape Verde's Leandro Andrade.
In Belarus (matchday 10), Gomel (7th) beat Smorgon 2-0, with a goal from Gabon's Rody Junior Effaghe. Ghanaian Kingsey Sarfo scored a hat-trick in Cyprus (matchday 36) as APOEL Nicosia (2nd) beat Aris Limassol 4-3.
In Croatia (matchday 36), Hajduk Spolit clearly beat Sibenik (3-0) with a goal from Moroccan Yassine Benrahou, while Gorica (9th) lost to Dinamo Zagreg (1-4). Merveille Ndockyt of Congo scored the only goal for the visitors.
In Finland (Matchday 10), Cape Verde's Willis Furtado helped KTP (8th) to a 1-0 win at Honka, while South African Darren Smith scored twice for Inter Turku (9th) against Haka (3-0).
In Georgia (matchday 17), Dinamo Batumi (1st) dominated Dinamo Tblissi (2-1), thanks in particular to a goal from Nigerian Benjamin Teidi. His compatriot Dare Olatunji helped Samtredia (9th) to a 1-0 win at Gagra, while Dila Gori (5th) drew at Samgurali (2-2), with a goal from Senegalese Honoré Gomis.
In Hungary (matchday 33), Nigeria's Meshak Ubodioma helped Zalaegerszeg (9th) draw 1-1 with Paks.
In Kazakhstan (matchday 12), seventh-placed Tobol beat Okzhetpes 2-1 thanks to a goal from Ivorian Serge DEblé, while Nigeria's Chidi Osuchukwu scored twice to give 13th-placed Aksu an important 2-1 win over Zhetysu.
In Latvia (matchday 15), eighth-placed Daugavpils CFB comfortably beat Jelgava 5-2, thanks to a brace from Ivorian Ismaël Diomandé. Auda (6th) dominated Metta/LU (3-1) with a goal from Ghanaian Jonah Attuquaye and a brace from Nigerian Abiodun Ogunniyi.
In Romania, Rapid Bucharest (5th) crushed Steaua 5-1 in the title play-offs, with Nigerian striker Funbsho Bamgboye scoring twice. In Serbia (matchday 36), Red Star Belgrade (1st) were held at home by Novi Pazar (2-2), despite a goal from Gabonese Guélor Kanga, while Partizan Belgrade (4th) won against Vozdovac (2-1), with a goal from Malian Fousseini Diabaté.
In Sweden (matchday 10), Sirius (13th) beat Brommapojkarna 2-1, with a goal from South African Tashreeq Mattews.
