African players in Europe: Chadian Ninga overshadows African stars

France-based Chadian Casimir Ninga was the unlikely star of a largely frustrating weekend for Africans across Europe. The 23-year-old scored his first Ligue 1 hat-trick — twice giving Montpellier a two-goal lead in a 3-3 draw at fellow strugglers Dijon.

While Ninga sparkled, African stars like Algerian Riyad Mahrez and Ivorian Wilfried Bony wasted scoring chances in the English Premier League.ENGLANDVICTOR MOSES (Chelsea) The Nigeria winger made his first start for Chelsea since May 2013 at wing-back and played his part in a much-improved defensive display as Antonio Conte’s side won 2-0 at Hull City.    RIYAD MAHREZ (Leicester City) After a season where everything went right for the Algeria flyer and champions Leicester, player and club both endured a frustrating afternoon in a goalless draw with Southampton. Mahrez, last season’s player of the year, shot woefully wide from the edge of the area just before half-time.

YANNICK BOLASIE (Everton) The Democratic Republic of Congo winger gave his former team-mates a reminder of what they had been missing with some sublime play down the flanks for Everton in their 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace and the skill that created a chance for Senegalese Idrissa Gueye ought to have been rewarded with a goal. WILFRIED BONY (Stoke City) On loan from Manchester City, the Ivory Coast forward found chances few and far to come by during a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Manchester United. But he should have done better when, in the first half, he mis-kicked at Joe Allen’s inviting cross from the right-hand …

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