African players lighting up the Premier League

With Africans consistently starring in the Premier League so far this season (streaming live on Showmax Pro, courtesy of SuperSport), here’s a look at some of the continent’s best who will be resuming club duty this weekend after the international break.

Bryan Mbeumo – Brentford

With Ivan Toney’s long-term suspension for breaches of the Football Association’s gambling laws, Brentford were in desperate need of one of their players to step up and replace the goals the striker would have provided.

Bryan Mbeumo has been the man to answer the call, with four goals already this season. Only Erling Haaland has scored more goals than the Cameroonian.

He’s stepped up as the new penalty-taker for the Bees and has also shown his threat in open play. His goal against Bournemouth came from an exquisite touch and turn that showed his attacking class.

Taiwo Awoniyi – Nottingham Forest

Following up on his heroics that kept Nottingham Forest up last season with goals in each of the last four games of the season, Taiwo Awoniyi has carried on where he left off by scoring in each of the first three matches of this campaign.

In doing so, he became only the third African to score in seven consecutive Premier League matches after Mohamed Salah and Emmanuel Adebayor.

In his second season in the Premier League, the Nigerian is showing his quality with goals at great arenas like the Emirates and Old Trafford as well as an assist for a memorable winner at Stamford Bridge.

Lyle Foster – Burnley

It’s been a long time since a South African has made an impact in the Premier League, and Lyle Foster is now making Mzansi proud with his performances upfront for newly promoted Burnley.

The 23-year-old has scored against Aston Villa and Tottenham, which means that he’s already overtaken his goal total in the Championship last season.

The Clarets have started with three straight losses and it might be a battle for them to stay in the division. With Foster providing goals, his role in their survival attempt will be key.

Mohamed Salah – Liverpool

As a three-time Golden Boot winner and the leading all-time African scorer in the Premier League, Mohamed Salah is going to go into every season with high expectations.

With either a goal or an assist in every league game so far this season, the “Egyptian King” is still Liverpool’s leader in attack despite all the changes in personnel around him, with the likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino leaving recently.

He’s now nine goals away from 150 in the Premier League and he would only be the 11th player to reach that milestone.

Yoane Wissa – Brentford

Strikers usually have a streak of selfishness about them, but Yoane Wissa has stood out for how selflessly he works for the team upfront.

The DRC forward has two goals to his name so far this season and has been a key player for Brentford, who are unbeaten after four games.

This is Wissa’s third season in the Premier League, and with more starting opportunities available due to Toney’s suspension, this could be the most impactful season in England for him.

Jordan Ayew – Crystal Palace

In his ninth Premier League season following spells at Aston Villa and Swansea, Jordan Ayew is a stalwart in the division these days and he consistently makes telling contributions for Crystal Palace.

Reunited with his old manager Roy Hodgson, the Ghanaian has kept his place in the first team and has already registered assists against Sheffield United and Brentford.

The Eagles will be more than happy with their position of seventh, and with Ayew looking to make an impact against his former club Aston Villa this weekend, they could even find themselves higher up the table.