Mohamed Salah is set to travel to Morocco this week to captain Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, with questions still swirling around his long-term future at Liverpool.
The 33-year-old played a key role in Liverpool’s 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton at the weekend, coming off the bench midway through the first half and providing the assist for the second goal. Despite manager Arne Slot insisting after the match that there was “no issue to resolve” with his star forward, speculation continues following Salah’s public frustration last weekend.
Salah had been omitted from Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League victory over Inter Milan and was benched for a third consecutive match before making his impact against Brighton. His recent claim that he had been “thrown under the bus” has fuelled talk of a possible exit during the January transfer window.
England
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Introduced as a substitute, Salah wasted no time in influencing the game, setting up Hugo Ekitike for Liverpool’s second goal. His situation remains a major talking point as he prepares to lead Egypt at AFCON.
Calvin Bassey (Fulham)
The Nigerian defender found the net in Fulham’s 3-2 win over Burnley, scoring his side’s second goal with a close-range header. It marked Fulham’s first victory at Turf Moor since 1951 and Bassey’s first goal since March.
Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest)
The Ivory Coast midfielder sealed a 3-0 win over Tottenham with a superb late strike, curling the ball in off the post. His second goal of the season boosted Forest’s fight to avoid relegation.
Spain
Akor Adams & Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla)
The Nigerian duo marked their AFCON call-ups with goals as Sevilla thrashed Real Oviedo 4-0. Adams struck early, while Ejuke wrapped up the scoring late on.
Germany
Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg)
Amoura scored for the second consecutive match in Wolfsburg’s 3-1 win at Borussia Mönchengladbach, taking his league tally to six goals and two assists.
Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund)
The Algerian defender netted Dortmund’s only goal in a 1-1 draw at Freiburg, stepping up as the team struggled to convert chances.
France
Himad Abdelli & Harouna Djibirin (Angers)
Abdelli converted an early penalty, while Djibirin struck late as Angers cruised to a 4-1 Ligue 1 victory over Nantes. Both players claimed their second league goals of the season.
As AFCON approaches, African stars continue to make headlines across Europe, combining club form with international ambitions.
