Africans In Italy

Africans In Italy: Momo Sissoko, Samuel Eto'o And Sulley Muntari All Exhibit Below-Par Performance

Goal.com's Subhankar Mondal rounds up the key performances from African players in Serie A at the weekend.....

Nov 30, 2009 10:00:00 AM

Eto'o & Dainelli - Inter-Fiorentina - Serie A (Getty Images)

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Eto'o & Dainelli - Inter-Fiorentina - Serie A (Getty Images)

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Mohamed Sissoko's return from injury last weekend against Udinese was deemed a success as appearing early on in the second half he was tremendous in his defensive duties in the midfield and could have even scored a goal. This weekend, though, he ended up on the losing side as Juventus comprehensively lost 2-0 to Cagliari away.

The Malian international was one of the few Juve players who emerged out of the humiliation with some credit, but even he displayed below-par performances, giving away rather unnecessary free-kicks and could have even been sent off for two bookable offences.

Juventus have now slipped to third in the table, a point behind astonishingly improving Milan and are eight points off the pace.

Defending champions Inter defeated Fiorentina 1-0 at home also on Sunday, and have now extended their lead at the top of the table in Serie A to seven points. But neither of their African players could do much. Striker Samuel Eto'o continued to work hard but he looked erratic in front of goal, missing a one-on-one chance in injury time.

Fellow African Sulley Muntari similarly had a disappointing time on Sunday as he missed three good chances and didn't look very apt in his defensive midfield duties either.

Abdelkader Ghezzal suffered yet another defeat with Siena this weekend. Rock-bottom Bianconeri almost audaciously went ahead against the league's joint best defensive side Bari as early as the third minute but conceded two goals in the last 12 minutes to suffer their 10th defeat of the season in Serie A. Ghezzal couldn't really do much in the match although the Algerian international did provide a pass for Simone Vergassola four minutes into the second half but the Italian couldn't add to his tally.

Udinese's Ghanaian international midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah had a lively game against Livorno on Saturday evening. They defeated the relegation-threatened side 2-0 at home and are now 12th in the standings, just six points off a Champions League spot. Asamoah had his side's first chance of the game when he forced Livorno custodian Alfonso De Lucia into making a good save. He looked good in the remainder of the match and would be encouraged by his side's victory.

Two African players to miss out on this weekend's action in Serie A were McDonald Mariga of Parma and Udinese's Christian Obodo.

Subhankar Mondal, Goal.com

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