Many African players have scored in the Persian Gulf. A good omen for some teams, as the AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire approaches.
Usually prolific, the Africans were a little more discreet on Matchday 16 of the Saudi Arabian championship. Only six of them scored. The Cameroonian Georges-Kevin NKoudou, who has been sparkling in recent weeks, scored another brace as Damac (6th) beat Al-Ittihad (5th), who saved their honour thanks to Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah. In Al Taawon's (4th) 4-1 win over Al-Feiha (10th), Gambia's Musa Barrow scored for the hosts and Zambia's Fashion Sakala for the other. Egyptian Mohamed Sherif scored one of Al Khaleej's three goals against Abha (3-1).
In the United Arab Emirates (Matchday 10), Guinea's Ousmane Camara scored twice as Al Sharjah (4th) won 4-1 at Hatta. Al-Ain (3rd) drew 2-2 at Ittihad Kalba, thanks in part to a goal from Moroccan Soufiane Rahimi. Tunisian Haykeul Chikhaoui scored the fifth goal for Ajman (10th), clear winners at Al Jazira. Leaders Al Wasl had to settle for a draw at Al Wahda, despite a goal from Malian Siaka Sidibé. Moroccan Soufiane Rahimi scored for Al-Ain (3rd).
In Qatar (matchday 11), Al Sadd (1st) crushed Al-Rayyan (4-0), mainly thanks to Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah, who scored a hat-trick. Al-Gharafa (2nd) and Shamal (9th) drew 1-1, with Ivorian Yannick Boli and Cape Verdean Ricardo Gomes scoring. Algerian Mohamed Benyattou scored twice as Al-Wakrah (3rd) beat Al-Ahli Doha.Despite a goal from Moroccan Oussama Tannane, Umm-Salal (6th) were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Al Markhiya.A stoppage-time equaliser from Tunisian Youssef Msakni earned Al Arabi (7th) a draw at Muaither (2-2).
Tetteh on the score-sheet, Senegalese efficient in Iraq
In Iraq (Matchday 6), Ghanaian Dennis Tetteh scored an injury-time equaliser to earn Al Kahraba (6th) a draw in Newroz. Al Zawraa (4th) clearly dominated Duhok (3-0), thanks in particular to a goal from Nigerian Collins O'Barry. Senegalese Idrissa Niang scored one of two goals for Al Shorta (2nd) against Zakho (2-0).Al Hudod (6th) and Al Qassim (10th) drew (3-3). Senegalese Romuald da Costa scored for the hosts and Cameroonian Pierre Olomou for the visitors. In Kuwait (Matchday 9), Moroccan Hamza Khalba scored one of four goals for Al Arabi (1st) against Kazma (4-0), while Tunisian Youssef Ben Soudaa scored again in Al Qadisiya's (3rd) clear victory over Al-Shabab (4-0).
