ACTUALITE |
19.10.2001
Africans in Champions League
It was not a great week for African players in the Champions League, with Real Mallorca`s Samuel Eto`o having the worst night of all.
Mallorca, in the relegation zone in Spain after only three goals in eight games, had won two of their three Champions League games.
But their hopes of reaching the second group stage took a blow as they crashed 4-0 at home to Schalke, with Eto`o sent off for dissent midway through the first half after he was refused a penalty with his side already 2-0 down.
The loss was the final straw for coach Bernd Krauss, who was promptly sacked.
Lille took a surprise lead at Panathinaikos with a fine goal from Moroccan striker Salaheddine Bassir, who was a fifth minute replacement for Ivorian Dagui Bakari.
Togo striker Adekanmi Olufade hit a post after being given a rare start following two important goals as sub in recent weeks.
But the French side collapsed in the second half against a Greek attack led by Ghanaian striker Peter Ofori-Quaye, and lost 2-1.
Naybet frustrates Reds
In the same group, veteran Moroccan defender Noureddine Naybet had a fine game at the heart of the Deportivo Coruna defence as they upset Manchester United 3-2 at Old Trafford.
Ghanaian defender Sammy Kuffour enjoyed his 45th Champions League game for Bayern Munich as they thumped Spartak Moscow 5-1 to move within a point of progressing.
It was a good week for French-based Cameroon midfielders as Marc-Vivien Foé helped Lyon beat Fenerbahce 3-1 to resurrect their chances.
And youngster Eric Djemba-Djemba helped Nantes earn a goalless draw in Galatasaray as the French champions fine form in Europe continued to belie their miserable start to the league where they are rooted to the bottom.
Veteran Nigerian Uche Okechukwu enjoyed a rare appearance for the Turks as a first half substitute.
South African midfielder Jacob Lekgetho had a fine game for Lokomotiv Moscow against Italian champions Roma, who only won with a late deflected goal.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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