The penultimate round of European Cup group matches took place on November 28, 29 and 30. Here's a look back at the many African goals, some of them decisive.
Champions League
Since joining Galatasaray from Chelsea, Hakim Ziyech's performance against Manchester United (3-3, Group A) was perhaps the most accomplished of his career. The Moroccan scored twice for his team. In Group B, two other Atlas Lions scored in the FC Sevilla-PSV Eindhoven match (2-3): Youssef En-Nesyri for the Andalusians, and Ismael Saibari for the Dutch. In Group C, Napoli lost at Real Madrid (2-4), despite a goal from Cameroonian André-Franck Zambo Anguissa. Finally, in Group F, AC Milan were beaten at home by Borussia Dortmund (1-3). Nigeria's Samuel Chukwueze saved the day for the Italians.
Europa League
In Group B, the match between Marseille and Ajax Amsterdam lived up to all its promises. The French side came out on top (4-3), thanks to a hat-trick from Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and a goal from Congolese (DRC) Chancel Mbemba. Aubameyang converted two penalties, including the winner in added time. Anglo-Nigerian Chuba Akpom scored for Ajax. In Group C, Aris Limassol of Cyprus drew with Glasgow Rangers in Scotland thanks to Shavy Babicka of Gabon.
In Group E, Liverpool crushed Linz ASK of Austria 4-0, with Egyptian Mohamed Salah converting a penalty and providing an assist for Dutchman Cody Gakpo. Rennes (Group F) clearly beat Israel's Maccabi Haifa in Budapest (3-0), with a goal from Algerian Amine Gouiri. In Group G, Ivorian Chris Bédia's equaliser earned Servette Genève a 1-1 draw against AS Roma. In the other match, Slavia Prague won (3-2) in Moldova against Sheriff Tiraspol thanks to an injury-time penalty from Muhamed Tijani of Nigeria, after Cameroon's Jérôme Ngom Mbekeli had equalised moments earlier. For their part, Bayer Leverkusen won again at Swedish side Häcken (2-0, Group H), with a goal from the inevitable Victor Boniface.
Europa Conference League
In Group B, Belgium's La Gantoise comfortably beat Ukraine's Zorya Luhansk (4-1), with another goal from Nigeria's Gift Orban.
His compatriot Raphael Onyedika took part in FC Brugge's 5-0 win over Besiktas Istanbul. Eintracht Frankfurt lost at home (1-2) to PAOK Salonika despite a goal from Egyptian Omar Marmoush, while Burkinabe Hassan Bandé opened the scoring for Finnish side HJK Helsinki, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Scottish side FC Aberdeen in the other Group G encounter.
