African players in Europe: Salah sets up birthday boy Mane for key goal

Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah reacts during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between SL Benfica and Liverpool FC at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on April 5, 2022. (Photo by CARLOS COSTA / AFP)

African stars Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane played key roles as Liverpool drew 2-2 at leaders Manchester City in a top-of-the-table Premier League showdown at the weekend.

Egypt captain Salah played a sublime defence-splitting pass to Senegal talisman Mane, who celebrated his 30th birthday by equalising with a brilliant finish into the corner for his 16th club goal this term.

City lead Liverpool by one point with seven rounds remaining, and the great rivals clash again this Saturday at Wembley in an FA Cup semi-final.

Here, AFP Sport highlights Africans who starred in the major European leagues:

ENGLANDSADIO MANE (Liverpool)

Mane kept Liverpool firmly in the Premier League title race as his second-half equaliser rescued a draw against Manchester City. With Liverpool trailing 2-1, Mane netted 47 seconds after the interval at the Etihad Stadium.

ENOCK MWEPU (Brighton)

The Zambia midfielder scored the crucial second goal in a shock 2-1 win for Brighton at Arsenal. Mwepu struck in the 67th minute, firing home from the edge of the area after a neat interchange from Leandro Trossard and Moises Caicedo. It was the 24-year-old’s third goal this season and first since October in a campaign affected by injuries.

SPAINPIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Barcelona)

The Gabon captain and former African Footballer of the Year scored the first Barca goal in a dramatic 3-2 La Liga win at Levante. Second-placed Barcelona trailed, led and conceded an equaliser before winning the match in added time. “We improved in the