African players in Europe: Gueye clinches survival for Everton

PARIS:

Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye assured Everton of Premier League football next season by scoring the goal that beat Brentford 1-0 at the weekend.

The win at Goodison Park lifted the Toffees to 36 points and safety, leaving Nottingham Forest, Luton and Burnley in danger with two of them destined to be relegated with Sheffield United.

It was the third straight home victory for Everton, who had eight points deducted this season for two breaches of Premier League financial rules.

Here, AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:

IDRISSA GUEYE (Everton)

Gueye scored the only goal as Everton beat Brentford to guarantee their Premier League survival. Gueye, 34, fired home through a crowd of players in the 60th minute for his sixth goal in 189 English top-flight games.

JEFFREY SCHLUPP (Crystal Palace)

Ghana midfielder Schlupp, 31, scored a stunning goal from distance as Palace rescued a point at Fulham. The substitute received a pass from Adam Wharton before hitting a thunderous strike into the top corner in the 87th minute to make it 1-1.

EVAN NDICKA (Roma)

Ivory Coast defender Ndicka returned to action, starting in a Serie A fixture at Napoli after being cleared to play following an on-pitch collapse this month. Ndicka fell to the turf at Udinese with what was initially feared to be heart problems, causing play to be suspended with 18 minutes left and the teams drawing 1-1. However, Ndicka was cleared of any cardiac issues and Roma eventually won the restarted fixture on Thursday thanks to a late goal. On Sunday, he provided the corner from which Tammy Abraham headed in the equaliser in a 2-2 draw in Naples.

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (Atalanta)

The England-born Nigeria striker scored the second goal of Atalanta's 2-0 win over Empoli. Lookman found the net after a run down the left in the 52nd minute and almost had a second moments later.

AMINE ADLI (Bayer Leverkusen)

Robert Andrich may have equalised with the last kick of the game, which kept Leverkusen's unbeaten run alive with a 2-2 home draw against Stuttgart, but coach Xabi Alonso credited Moroccan Adli with starting the comeback. Stuttgart scored two quick second-half goals and looked on course to break Bayer's 45-game unbeaten run. Adli drilled in a low shot after 61 minutes to halve the deficit and keep Leverkusen's hopes alive.

SERHOU GUIRASSY (Stuttgart)

Star Stuttgart forward Guirassy had an unusually wasteful time in front of goal, missing three excellent chances. The Guinea international headed just wide after 14 minutes and was off target twice while in front of goal in the second half.

ANDRE AYEW (Le Havre)

The veteran Ghana star gave a reminder of his class by playing a major role for struggling Le Havre as they held Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-3 draw and delayed the capital side's title coronation by 24 hours. Ayew, now 34, played a part in Le Havre's opening goal by starting the move with a neat back-heel pass. He then scored his team's second goal, his fifth of the season. Ayew was substituted on 71 minutes and without him Le Havre gave up a 3-1 lead.

PAPE GUEYE (Marseille)

The Senegal midfielder started Marseille's home game against Lens and marked the occasion by scoring a late winner as his side claimed a 2-1 victory to keep their hopes of European qualification via Ligue 1 alive. Gueye, 25, is not in Marseille's Europa League squad and so misses the semi-final against Atalanta. He is also set to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season, with Villarreal tipped to be his next destination.