Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and 5 African Players to Watch This Weekend
After a break for international football, domestic action returns this weekend with a full schedule of matches across Europe.
As ever, African competitors will be among the continent’s key protagonists.
In this article, we profile five African players to watch this weekend. These are the players who could be set to make a big contribution over the coming round of matches and who could prove to be decisive figures.
Please note that while four of those players named are current internationals for African nations, a fifth is yet to make his debut.
Gervinho
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AS Roma have enjoyed a terrific start to the new Serie A season. They have won five of their opening six games and only champions Juventus (with a 100 percent record) are ahead of them in the table.
The capital club did, however, lose their last fixture against the Old Lady, and will be desperate to bounce back with a victory at home to Chievo on Saturday.
Despite the defeat to Juve, Gervinho can hardly be criticised for his contribution. The Ivorian forward created one goal and completed four dribbles, second only to Paul Pogba according to WhoScored.
The former Arsenal man has started the season well, he’s scored two in two in the Champions League and scored one, contributed two in four starts in Serie A.
Having been present in Abidjan as the Elephants were defeated 4-3 by the Democratic Republic of Congo in a continental thriller, Gervinho will be looking to bounce back with a big performance against the Flying Donkeys.
Diafra Sakho
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What a start Diafra Sakho is enjoying to life in the Premier League! Graziano Pelle might have won the Player of the Month award, but the Senegal striker scored three goals in three games in September and deserves immense credit.
He also found the net in his fifth match for West Ham United, at home to Queens Park Rangers.
The forward didn’t feature for Senegal during the international break and ought to be primed for a return to Premier League action with the Hammers.
A trip to strugglers Burnley ought to provide Sakho with an opportunity to return to his goal-scoring ways.
Serge Aurier
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Ivorian defender Serge Aurier has struggled since arriving at Paris Saint-Germain in the summer. The right-back has, admittedly, had problems with injury, while the form of his right-back rival Gregory van der Wiel has also reduced his game time.
Neither injury nor the Dutchman can be blamed for Aurier’s shoddy performance against Toulouse at the end of September, however, when his error handed his former side a point.
PSG have only won two of their last six games and, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s absence continues, Laurent Blanc needs the rest of his team to step up more than ever.
Since arriving at the capital, Aurier has demonstrated almost nothing of the offensive talent that made him such a sought-after talent last term. Could a trip to Lens be the ideal occasion for the West African to ignite his PSG career?
Britt Assombalonga
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Nottingham Forest had an explosive start to their Championship campaign. Stuart Pearce’s side are unbeaten and managed five wins and two draws in their opening seven matches.
Since then, however, the conviction has dribbled away and Forest have drawn their last four games (five of their last six).
The East-Midlanders have also failed to score in three of their last four, and Pearce surely needs more from his strikers.
Congolese forward Britt Assombalonga has scored eight of the team’s 19 league goals to date, and the former Peterborough hit man currently sits atop the Championship scoring charts.
His form has, however, dropped off. Having scored eight in his first eight, he has since gone four games without a goal.
After an almost-two-week break, can the 21-year-old return to goal-scoring ways in Saturday’s early kick-off against Cardiff City?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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Borussia Dortmund have had a desperate start to the Bundesliga campaign.
The Ruhr giants have lost four of their opening seven matches and haven’t won in four, losing three of their last quartet of games.
A defeat to local rivals Schalke 04 at the end of September set alarm bells ringing in Jurgen Klopp’s camp.
Gabon forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang impressed in the derby, scoring BVB’s consolation, but the jury is out as to whether the right-sided forward can replace the goals of departed marksman Robert Lewandowski.
Three goals in his first six league starts of the season is auspicious, but the former Saint-Etienne man must step up to spearhead Dortmund’s climb up the table.
A double during the Cup of Nations qualifier against Burkina Faso reminded many of what Aubameyang is capable of when playing as a striker alongside a speedy partner (Malick Evouna). Will Klopp take note when his side meet Koln on Saturday?
