African scorers of the weekend: Moroccans in form in the Netherlands

In the top-of-the-table clash on matchday 13 of the German league, Bayer Leverkusen (1st) were held by Borussia Dortmund (1-1). Nigerian Victor Boniface equalised for Bayer 11 minutes from time. Guinean Serhou Guirassy scored his 16th goal of the season, converting a penalty in VfB Stuttgart's (3rd) 2-0 win over Werder Bremen. Bochum (12th) beat Wolfsburg (3-1), with Ghanaian Christopher Antwi-Adjei opening his account this season. In England (matchday 14), West Ham United (9th) were held to a draw by Crystal Palace (1-1) despite a goal from Ghanaian Mohammed Kudus.

Nigerian Umar Sadiq earned Real Sociedad (6th) a 1-1 draw at Osasuna on matchday 15 of the Spanish league. Athletic Bilbao (5th) thrashed Rayo Vallecano (4-0) with a goal from Ghanaian Inaki Williams. In France (matchday 14), Marseille (9th) got the better of Rennes (2-0) thanks to a penalty from Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and a goal from Moroccan Azzedine Ounahi. Lorient (16th) drew at Toulouse (1-1), with an added-time equaliser from Senegalese Bamba Dieng. Reims (5th) beat Strasbourg (2-1) with a goal from Moroccan Amir Richardson.

In Belgium (matchday 16), Union Saint-Gilloise (1st) picked up another win (2-1) against Cercle Brugge (6th) with a goal from Algerian Mohamed Ampiura, while Togolese Kevin Denkey scored for the visitors. Gent (3rd) drew 2-2 at Genk thanks to a brace from Moroccan Tarik Tissadouli. In Scotland (matchday 15), Senegalese Abdallah Sima, who scored twice, helped Glasgow Rangers (2nd) beat St Mirren (2-0). Ugandan Bevis Mugabi scored one of Motherwell's three goals (8th) against Dundee FC (3-3).

Bedia scores again in Switzerland

In Greece (matchday 13), Olympiakos Piraeus (2nd) drew 2-2 at Volos with a goal from Moroccan Ayoub El Kaabi. PSV Eindhoven, leaders of the Dutch league, won their fourteenth match, 2-1 at Feyenoord Rotterdam, and Moroccan Ismael Saibari scored again. His compatriot Yassin Oukili scored both goals for RKC Waaljwik (13th) against Excelsior Rotterdam (2-2).

Another Moroccan, Younes Taha, scored as FC Twente (3rd) beat Go Ahead Eagles (3-1). In Portugal (matchday 12), Congolese (DR Congo) Simon Banza consolidated his position as the league's top scorer with another goal in Sporting Braga's (4th) 3-1 win over Estoril. In Switzerland (matchday 16), Young Boys Bern (2nd) and Servette Geneva (3rd) drew 1-1. Congolese Silvère Ganvoula scored for the capital club and Ivorian Chris Bédia for the Romands. A goal from Tunisian Hadj Mahmoud gave FC Lugano (6th) a 1-0 win over Lucerne.

Bakambu and Ziyech decisive

Plenty of African players scored in Turkey (matchday 14). Congolese (DR Congo) Cédric Bakambu and Moroccan Hakim Ziyech steered Galatasaray Istanbul to a 2-0 win at Pendikspor. Cameroonian Stéphane Bahoken gave Kayserispor (3rd) an important 1-0 win at Trabzonspor. Kasimpasa (7th) beat Gaziantep (4-2) with a goal from Senegalese Mamadou Fall and a brace from Tunisian Morthada Ben Ouanes. Rizespor (7th) beat Istanbul Basaksehir (17th) 3-2 with a goal from Nigerian Ibrahim Olawoyin, while Ghanaian Jerome Opoku scored for the visitors. Gambian Ali Sowe earned Ankaragücü (12th) a 1-1 draw with Besiktas Istanbul.

Adama Demirspor (4th) lost at home (2-3) to Sivasspor (2-3). Senegalese Mbaye Niang scored a penalty for the hosts, while Cameroonian Olivier Ntcham (penalty) and Chadian Marius Mouandilmadji scored for the visitors.

Elsewhere in Europe, Nigerian Sunday Akinbule scored a brace in Malta (matchday 9) as Marsaxlokk (3rd) beat Gzira United (4-2). Cape Verdean Lisandro Semedo also scored twice in Poland (matchday 17) in Radomiak Radom's (8th) comfortable 3-0 win at Widzew Lodz. In Serbia (matchday 16), Nigerian Peter Olayinka gave Red Star Belgrade (2nd) a 1-0 win at Napredak (1-0). Partizan Belgrade stayed top with a 3-1 win over Vojvodina, with a goal from Senegalese Franck Kanouté.

Alexis Billebault