In the Persian Gulf, African players proved to be very successful.This was especially true for Delort, Brahimi, Boulaya, and Mahrez, four Algerians. Gueye and Olunga both scored twice.
Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez scored a second goal in the Saudi Arabian League matchday twelve, helping fourth-place Al-Ahli defeat Al-Riyadh 3-0. Karl Toko Ekambi of Cameroon earned Abha (12th) a 3-2 victory against Al-Akhdoud. Al Feiha (fifth) and Al Taee (thirteenth) drew (3-3). The goals for the visitors were scored by Zambian Fashion Sakala, Nigerians Anthony Nwakaeme and Henry Onyekuru, and Ghanaian Bernard Mensah.
Matchday 7 in the United Arab Emirates saw Al Wasl (1st) defeat Al-Aïn (3-1) thanks to a goal from Moroccan Soufiane Bouftini, and Al Bataeh (7th) defeat Al-Nasr (2-0) thanks to a goal from Malian Seko Baba Gassama, who scored his second goal of the season. In the Qatari league, the Africans were especially successful on matchday 7.Al Arabi (8th) was defeated by Al-Gharafa (2nd) by the odd score of 5–4.
The goals were scored by Tunisia’s Youssef Msakni for the visitors and Algerians Yacine Brahimi (penalty), Farid Boulaya, and Ivorian Yannick Boli for the hosts. Egyptian Hamdi Fathi helped Al-Wakrah (3rd) overcome Qatar SC (1-0). Shamal defeated Al-Ahli Doha (10th) 1-2 at home. The capital club’s goal came from Cape Verde’s Ricardo Gomes, while Tunisian Naïm Sliti sealed the win for his squad. Andy Delort, an Algerian international, scored three goals at Muaither to lead sixth-place Umm Salal to a 3-1 victory.Finally, Michael Olunga of Kenya helped Al-Sadd (1st) defeat Al-Rayyan (3-1).
Collins O’Barry, a Nigerian, helped Al Zawraa (13th) defeat Al-Qassim (1-0) in Iraq (matchday 3). Benjamin Okoronkwo, his countryman, scored one goal for Naft Missan (6th) against Al Talab (4-0), while Karim Benarif, Moroccan, scored one of Al Najat’s two goals (7th) against Al Wasat (2-0).
