African Football Stars Shine in Europe's Top Leagues

Aston Villa's Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson scored the team's second goal during the English Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park in Birmingham, England on October 24, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)

Senegal star Nicolas Jackson scored just four minutes into the game for Aston Villa. The team had a wild match that ended in a 4-4 draw against Manchester United over the weekend. They twice gave up two-goal leads in this exciting game.

Here are some African stars making headlines in major European leagues:

ENGLAND

Nicolas Jackson (Aston Villa)
Jackson scored to put his team 2-0 up against United. But that wasn’t enough to get a win at Old Trafford. After Jackson tapped in a shot that United's goalkeeper Senne Lammens deflected into his path, it looked like the 25-year-old's ninth goal in 14 games would lead to a comfortable win for Villa. But in a shocking finish, United scored two goals in stoppage time to equalize.

Yann Gboho (Coventry City)
The Ivory Coast winger scored his first Premier League goal in a 3-1 loss to Everton. Gboho, who joined from Toulouse in September, put Coventry ahead with a calm finish after dodging poor defending in the 52nd minute. But after Gboho's goal, Frank Lampard’s team turned things around, scoring three times and leaving Coventry just one point above the relegation zone.

SPAIN

Yassir Zabiri (Racing Santander)
Moroccan forward Zabiri kept up his great form by scoring again, helping Santander win 2-1 against Malaga. The 21-year-old scored his ninth goal of the season by finishing a rebound into an empty net. Only Raphinha, Kylian Mbappe, and Lamine Yamal have scored more goals in La Liga this season.

ITALY

Konan N’dri (Lecce)
After Angolan Kailonda Gaspar scored an own goal in the 60th minute, giving Torino the lead, Niger international N’Dri found a way to score for Lecce. His goal helped secure a 1-1 draw for the visiting team. Mali international Lassana Coulibaly set him up for that important equalizer.

GERMANY

Ezechiel Banzuzi (RB Leipzig)
Banzuzi's goal was key as he helped Leipzig come back to beat Augsburg 5-2 at home in the Bundesliga. The match started badly for Leipzig as they conceded a goal within the first minute. Anton Kade scored for Augsburg just after 36 seconds, but Banzuzi equalized in the 33rd minute, turning a Brajan Gruda pass into the bottom right corner. The 21-year-old from the Democratic Republic of Congo now has two goals and two assists in the league this season.

Uchenna Ogundu (Augsburg)
Ogundu scored his first goal for Augsburg, but it only served as a consolation as his team lost to Leipzig. With Leipzig leading 5-1, Augsburg's Alexis Claude Maurice intercepted the ball and led a counter-attack. Fabian Rieder found Ogundu, who slid the ball into the bottom corner.

FRANCE

Lassine Sinayoko (Paris FC)
Sinayoko, the top scorer in Ligue 1, scored after 63 minutes to help Paris FC win 1-0 against struggling Auxerre. This was his ninth goal in 10 matches this season.