African players were particularly effective in the Persian Gulf.This was particularly the case for Algerians Delort, Brahimi, Boulaya and Mahrez. Olunga and Gueye scored twice.
Matchday 12 of the Saudi Arabian league ended with another goal from Algeria's Riyad Mahrez, as fourth-placed Al-Ahli beat Al-Riyadh 3-0. Cameroon's Karl Toko Ekambi gave Abha (12th) a 3-2 win over Al-Akhdoud. Al Taee (13th) and Al Feiha (5th) drew (3-3). Ghanaian Bernard Mensah scored for the hosts, while the visitors' goals were scored by Nigerians Anthony Nwakaeme and Henry Onyekuru and Zambian Fashion Sakala.
In the United Arab Emirates (Matchday 7), Al Wasl (1st) beat Al-Aïn (3-1) with a goal from Moroccan Soufiane Bouftini, while Malian Seko Baba Gassama scored for the second time this season as Al Bataeh (7th) beat Al-Nasr (2-0). Matchday 7 of the Qatari league proved particularly prolific for the Africans.Al-Gharafa (2nd) beat Al Arabi (8th) by the unusual score of 5-4.
Algerians Yacine Brahimi (penalty) and Farid Boulaya, Ivorian Yannick Boli and Tunisia's Ferjani Sassi scored for the hosts, while Tunisia's Youssef Msakni scored for the visitors. Al-Wakrah (3rd) defeated Qatar SC (1-0) thanks to Egyptian Hamdi Fathi. Al-Ahli Doha (10th) lost 1-2 at home to Shamal. Tunisian Naïm Sliti scored for the capital club, while Cape Verde's Ricardo Gomes gave his team victory. Algerian international Andy Delort scored a hat-trick to help 6th-placed Umm Salal to a 3-1 win at Muaither.Finally, Al-Sadd (1st) beat Al-Rayyan (3-1), with a brace from Kenyan Michael Olunga.
In Iraq (Matchday 3), Al Zawraa (13th) beat Al-Qassim (1-0) thanks to Nigerian Collins O'Barry. His compatriot Benjamin Okoronkwo scored once for Naft Missan (6th) against Al Talab (4-0), while Moroccan Karim Benarif scored one of the two goals for Al Najat (7th) against Al Wasat (2-0).
