African players in Europe: Daring Semenyo wins final for City
Manchester City's Ghanaian midfielder #42 Antoine Semenyo (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English League Cup semi-final first leg football match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on January 13, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
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Antoine Semenyo produced one of the great FA Cup final goals
with an audacious back-flick that sealed a 1-0 win for Manchester City over
Chelsea in the FA Cup final at the weekend.
The Ghana winger illuminated a largely scrappy final late in
the second half as he improvised a sublime finish to caress Erling Haaland's
cross into the net at Wembley.
Semenyo is set to be a key figure for the Black Stars at the
2026 World Cup, where they face England, Croatia and Panama in Group L.
Citizen Digital sport
highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:
ANTOINE SEMENYO
(Manchester City)
His moment of magic was enough to clinch City's eighth FA
Cup triumph and their second piece of silverware this season after the League
Cup final win over Arsenal. Semenyo joins Ricky Villa, Michael Owen, Roberto Di
Matteo and Steven Gerrard among the ranks of iconic FA Cup final goalscorers.
BRYAN MBEUMO
(Manchester United)
The Cameroon forward scored for the first time since
February in his side's 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest. Mbeumo netted in the
76th minute at Old Trafford to put United 3-1 up, turning in Bruno Fernandes'
cross with a close-range finish to end his 11-game goal drought. The
26-year-old was also involved in a moment of controversy when referee Michael
Salisbury ignored VAR and ruled his handball was accidental in the build-up to
Matheus Cunha's goal.
ISMAILA SARR (Crystal
Palace)
The Senegal forward notched his eighth league goal this
season with a penalty in a 2-2 draw at Brentford. Sarr slotted home from the
spot in the sixth minute, putting UEFA Conference League finalists Palace
ahead.
DANGO OUATTARA
(Brentford)
The Burkina Faso winger kept his club in the hunt for
European qualification with a double against Crystal Palace. Ouattara's first
goal arrived in bizarre fashion in the 40th minute when Palace defender Jaydee
Canvot's clearance hit the 24-year-old in the face and deflected into the net.
That was Brentford's first equaliser. Ouattara did it again in the 88th minute,
firing home after Michael Kayode's throw was flicked on.
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN
(Atletico Madrid)
The Nigeria striker and former African Footballer of the
Year struck after 21 minutes to give fourth-placed Atletico a 1-0 home win over
Girona, who are in the La Liga relegation zone with one matchday remaining.
Lookman was set up France forward Antoine Griezmann, playing his 500th match
for Atletico, and last at the Metropolitano stadium before joining MLS side
Orlando City.
NICOLAS JACKSON
(Bayern Munich)
Senegal striker Jackson came off the bench to score a late
goal as Bayern celebrated their 35th Bundesliga title with a 5-1 win over
Cologne. It was Jackson's 11th goal in all competitions this season and fourth
in the last six Bundesliga games, despite playing second fiddle behind first-choice
striker Harry Kane.
SERHOU GUIRASSY
(Borussia Dortmund)
Guirassy opened the scoring in Dortmund's 2-0 win over
Werder Bremen on the final day. The Guinea striker netted with a well-placed
header on the hour as Dortmund ended the season with a win having already wrapped
up second behind Bayern.
ABDOULIE CEESAY
(Saint Pauli)
Gambian Ceesay could not save St. Pauli from relegation
despite scoring for the third game in a row. Ceesay gave St. Pauli hope with a
headed second-half equaliser in their final-day relegation showdown with
Wolfsburg, but the Hamburg side lost 3-1 and fell back into the second
division.

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