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Africans In France : Back From Angola, Many Africans Impress...
Massaër Ndiaye takes a look at the performances of the African players plying their trade in France, with a number of them impressing this past week, during the 23rd matchday of the French Ligue 1...
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Feb 8, 2010 9:32:00 PM
By Massaër Ndiaye
In the last game of the 23rd match day, Olympique de Marseille literally went through Valenciennes who are back to looking ordinary after a few euphoric weeks at Nungesser. Marseille's talisman player and captain, Senegalese skipper Mamadou Niang, who started the game on the bench after a few weeks of injury managed to score the fifth and last goal in the 5-1 victory. If his performance was not the best in a match where many of his team mates were outstanding, his tenth goal of the season must be highlighted for a player who only played seventeen games.
Niang being back is always a goof news for the Southerners and him getting back to his previous seasons' level of play is an amazing perspective for the Club. Another player who had an amazing game is his best friend and compatriot Souleymane Diawara. Diawara id not having the same season at Marseilles he did at Bordeaux last season, but the central defender is being constant again, which cannot be bad news for Didier Deschamps.
Against Valenciennes, Diawara had an outstanding performance, both defensively and offensively. First by being irreproachable in his defensive tasks, then by contributing during set pieces. His efforts were rewarded when he gave an assist to Mamadou Niang at the 90th minute, thus taking part in the goalfest that was Sunday night.
Earlier that day, Jean II Makoun illustrated himself when Olympique Lyonnais drew Toulouse by getting his first red card of the season. After coming back from a lacklustre African Cup of Nations with the Indomitable Lions, Makoun was not at his best when he got sent off. Maybe now he'll get the rest he deserved (Makoun was the most used player prior to the African competition) and come back stronger.
In Saint-Etienne's 3-0 victory against Monaco, Senegalese defender Pape Malickou Diakhaté, who only played four games so far, is now confirming his status as the best recruit of the season for Les Verts. After being heavily courted during the summer by Bordeaux and Laurent Blanc, Diakhate is now without a doubt establishing himself as the great defender Saint Etienne needed all along.
Another Senegalese defender who illustrated himself was Kader Mangane. The Rennais centre-back had his best game of the season against defending champions and current leaders, Bordeaux. In the same game, Ismael Bangoura was impressive in his tireless performance and got rewarded with a goal. His Ghanaian team mate, Asamoah Gyan, fresh off the finale of the African Cup of Nations where his team lost to now three-time in a row winner Egypt, managed to score on his first ball. His efficiency has not been altered in any way by the lack of overload of playing time.
In the opposing side, Morrocan Marouane Chamakh was Bordeaux's best player, with an impressive game up top.
In Sochaux's draw against Nancy, Senegalese winger Issiar Dia had one of his worst games of the season but managed to score the first goal of the match. His compatriot Souleymane Camara (Montpellier HSC) scored at the 27th
Nice's heavy African colony was impressive against a Lille side that accustomed us to stellar performanes. Tunisian midfielder Chaouki Ben Saada is back to his best form and was the best player on the pitch. Not taking anything away from Ivorian Emerse Fae and Nigerian Onyekachi Apam who were both impressive in their comeback game. Nice managed to draw Lille (1-1) and could even have won if not for Gervinho being back for the Northernern.
In Lens' victory over Le Mans (2-1), Tunisian Alaeddine Yahia (expelled from the National team in 2008) was the player of the Match for the Blood and Golds.
With two goals against Auxerre in Grenoble's best game of the season (5-0), Algerian Nassim Akrour showed the local press that he was still useful at the advanced age of 35.
Niang being back is always a goof news for the Southerners and him getting back to his previous seasons' level of play is an amazing perspective for the Club. Another player who had an amazing game is his best friend and compatriot Souleymane Diawara. Diawara id not having the same season at Marseilles he did at Bordeaux last season, but the central defender is being constant again, which cannot be bad news for Didier Deschamps.
Against Valenciennes, Diawara had an outstanding performance, both defensively and offensively. First by being irreproachable in his defensive tasks, then by contributing during set pieces. His efforts were rewarded when he gave an assist to Mamadou Niang at the 90th minute, thus taking part in the goalfest that was Sunday night.
Earlier that day, Jean II Makoun illustrated himself when Olympique Lyonnais drew Toulouse by getting his first red card of the season. After coming back from a lacklustre African Cup of Nations with the Indomitable Lions, Makoun was not at his best when he got sent off. Maybe now he'll get the rest he deserved (Makoun was the most used player prior to the African competition) and come back stronger.
In Saint-Etienne's 3-0 victory against Monaco, Senegalese defender Pape Malickou Diakhaté, who only played four games so far, is now confirming his status as the best recruit of the season for Les Verts. After being heavily courted during the summer by Bordeaux and Laurent Blanc, Diakhate is now without a doubt establishing himself as the great defender Saint Etienne needed all along.
Another Senegalese defender who illustrated himself was Kader Mangane. The Rennais centre-back had his best game of the season against defending champions and current leaders, Bordeaux. In the same game, Ismael Bangoura was impressive in his tireless performance and got rewarded with a goal. His Ghanaian team mate, Asamoah Gyan, fresh off the finale of the African Cup of Nations where his team lost to now three-time in a row winner Egypt, managed to score on his first ball. His efficiency has not been altered in any way by the lack of overload of playing time.
In the opposing side, Morrocan Marouane Chamakh was Bordeaux's best player, with an impressive game up top.
In Sochaux's draw against Nancy, Senegalese winger Issiar Dia had one of his worst games of the season but managed to score the first goal of the match. His compatriot Souleymane Camara (Montpellier HSC) scored at the 27th
Nice's heavy African colony was impressive against a Lille side that accustomed us to stellar performanes. Tunisian midfielder Chaouki Ben Saada is back to his best form and was the best player on the pitch. Not taking anything away from Ivorian Emerse Fae and Nigerian Onyekachi Apam who were both impressive in their comeback game. Nice managed to draw Lille (1-1) and could even have won if not for Gervinho being back for the Northernern.
In Lens' victory over Le Mans (2-1), Tunisian Alaeddine Yahia (expelled from the National team in 2008) was the player of the Match for the Blood and Golds.
With two goals against Auxerre in Grenoble's best game of the season (5-0), Algerian Nassim Akrour showed the local press that he was still useful at the advanced age of 35.
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
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