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African players in Europe: Mendy ends 108-match goal drought

Nampalys Mendy celebrates his first goal for Leicester City. ©AFP

Paris (AFP) - Nampalys Mendy ended a 108-match run without a goal since joining Leicester City by scoring the first in a 4-1 Premier League rout of Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend. 

"It's my first goal for Leicester, so I'm very happy -- and for the team to get the win as well," he said.

The 30-year-old midfielder helped Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations last year for the first time with a penalty shootout victory over Egypt.

Here, AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers across Europe:

ENGLAND

NAMPALYS MENDY (Leicester)

Six and a half years after joining Leicester from French club Nice, Mendy broke his duck in the 25th minute with a rocket from the edge of the area.The equaliser sparked a resounding victory for Brendan Rodgers' side.

KELECHI IHEANACHO (Leicester)

The Nigeria striker bagged his fourth goal in his last six appearances as Leicester crushed Tottenham by scoring in first half added-time.Harry Souttar cleared upfield and Iheanacho ran to the edge of the area, where he drilled a clinical finish into the bottom corner.

RIYAD MAHREZ (Manchester City)

The Algeria winger scored in Manchester City's comfortable 3-1 win against Aston Villa.Mahrez netted with a penalty in first half added-time after Jacob Ramsey fouled Jack Grealish.The 31-year-old also delivered the corner that produced Rodri's fourth-minute opener as the champions moved within three points of leaders Arsenal.

SPAIN

YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI (Sevilla)

The Moroccan slotted home when through on goal against Real Mallorca for his third goal in three La Liga games, following a 14-game drought in the top flight this season.He helped seal a 2-0 win and a fourth in a row at home. 

THEO BONGONDA (Cadiz)

A pair of assists from the Democratic Republic of Congo winger helped Cadiz to a 2-0 win over Girona.The Andalusians scored when Bongonda cushioned a cross into Gonzalo Escalante's path, and he later steered a good pass to Sergi Guardiola to create the second goal.

ITALY

VICTOR OSIMHEN (Napoli)

The Nigerian's league tally stands at 17 after his strike in Serie A leaders Napoli's latest win, this time a simple tap-in against Serie A's bottom side Cremonese in a 3-0 victory.Osimhen has now scored eight times in his last seven Serie A games and is odds-on favourite to top the scoring charts with Napoli increasingly likely to end their 33-year wait for the league title.

GERMANY

SEBASTIEN HALLER (Borussia Dortmund)

Ivory Coast international Haller, who recently retured to action after cancer treatment, came on in the 28th minute for injured Youssoufa Moukoko and looked sharp, blasting inches over the crossbar in a 2-0 Bundesliga victory at Werder Bremen.

ELLYES SKHIRI (Cologne)

The winter break has done wonders for Cologne midfielder Skhiri, who scored twice in a surprise 3-0 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt.The Tunisian scored with his head and a half volley, bringing his league goal tally this year to five. 

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