Amad Diallo deserves more playing time, says Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, after his dramatic winner in a 4-3 triumph over Liverpool at the weekend in an epic FA Cup quarter-final.
The Ivorian, who came off the bench to make only his fourth appearance of a season in which he suffered a serious knee injury, netted in added time at the end of extra-time.
“He does not always get the playing time he deserves judged by his training performances. But we know he has the ability to decide a game,” said Ten Hag.
Here, AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the FA Cup and major European leagues:
ENGLAND
AMAD DIALLO (Manchester United)
The 21-year-old, who was brought off the bench towards the end of normal time, kept his nerve to slot past Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher following a pass from Alejandro Garnacho. The winger was then red-carded for taking his shirt off as he celebrated.
MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)
Egypt forward Salah scored as Liverpool went 2-1 ahead against United just before half-time at Old Trafford. The 31-year-old now has 13 goals in 14 matches against Liverpool’s great rivals and 21 in all competitions this season.
DAVID DATRO FOFANA (Burnley)
Ivory Coast forward Fofana scored as Burnley boosted their slim Premier League survival hopes with a 2-1 victory over Brentford at Turf Moor. Fofana, 21, squandered a great chance before the interval but the Chelsea loanee made amends when he beat goalkeeper Mark Flekken in the 62nd minute to put his team 2-0 up.
SPAIN
YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI (Sevilla)
Moroccan En-Nesyri netted his fifth goal in seven games for Sevilla, but it was not enough to earn his team a La Liga victory against Celta Vigo, who came back to win 2-1. The forward squared off angrily with coach Quique Sanchez Flores after he was substituted before team-mate Lucas Ocampos intervened to calm the situation.
BRAHIM DIAZ (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid midfielder Diaz, starting in place of the suspended Jude Bellingham, stroked home the third goal in a 4-2 win at Osasuna. Diaz has been called up by Morocco for friendlies against Angola and Mauritania despite having represented Spain once, in a 2021 friendly.
GERMANY
SERHOU GUIRASSY (Stuttgart)
Guirassy scored for the fifth time in five games as Stuttgart tightened their grip on third place with a 3-0 Bundesliga win at neighbours Hoffenheim. Guirassy fired into the left corner to complete a Stuttgart counter late in the first half, putting his side on course for victory. The Guinea striker has netted 22 times in 20 league games this season.
AMADOU HAIDARA (RB Leipzig)
Haidara scored the fourth goal in RB Leipzig’s 5-1 rout of Cologne. The Malian rifled in a low left-footed shot from the edge of the box after Cologne failed to clear a corner. It was the midfielder’s first goal for almost a year.
FRANCE
TEREM MOFFI (Nice)
The Nigerian has struggled to rediscover his best form since going to the Africa Cup of Nations, where he featured only sparingly on the Super Eagles’ run to the final. However, he played a starring role as Nice claimed a precious 3-1 Ligue 1 win at Lens, scoring an early opener and later netting a penalty for his second goal and his team’s third.
ANDRE AYEW (Le Havre)
The Ghana great scored for the fourth time since joining Le Havre in November but could not prevent his side slumping to a 2-1 defeat at Clermont, which leaves them just two points above the relegation zone. Ayew moved to the Normandy outfit on a deal until the end of the season when he was a free agent following his departure from Nottingham Forest.
