Africans In Spain

Africans In Spain: Mr Consistency, Didier Zokora

Goal.com's Paul Madden rounds up the key performances from African players in La Liga at the weekend...

Nov 23, 2009 6:45:48 AM

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Didier Zokora, Sevilla (Getty Images)

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Ivory Coast international midfielder Didier Zokora produced another polished display in the middle of the park for Los Nervionenses as Sevilla secured a 2-1 away win over Tenerife on Saturday. Since arriving from Tottenham Hotspur during the summer, the 28-year-old has wasted no time in establishing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet and a vital cog in Manolo Jimenez's well oiled Andalusian machine, as they continue to fight successfully on three fronts this season. His performances, both domestically and in Europe, have been a crucial driving force in Sevilla's run, which has seen them win 13 of their last 16 games in all competitions, and his absence in January for the African Nations Cup is bound to take it's toll on Jimenez's side.

Another Ivorian midfielder, Christian Romaric, replaced Mali striker Frederic Kanoute with half an hour left on the clock in that game. Los Nervionenses maintain their place in third spot in the league, now just three points behind leaders Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Mahamadou Diarra also made a substitute appearance as Real leapfrogged Barcelona into first place in the title race with a 1-0 win over Racing Santander at the Bernabeu.

Mali midfielder Seydou Keita turned in a relatively quiet display for Barcelona as the champions dropped two points in a 1-1 draw away to Athletic Bilbao. Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure missed the game as a result of swine flu.

Mallorca striker Pierre Achile Webo was substituted after an hour of his sides' 3-1 win over Almeria. The visitors, who had Modeste M'Bami and Kalu Uche in their starting eleven, equalised with fifteen minutes remaining but the hosts scored twice in the dying minutes to secure the win.

Angolan forward Manucho was introduced as a second half substitute as Valladolid succumbed Villarreal at the Madrigal. The Yellow Submarine lead 3-0 when he was introduced but the visitors scored a couple of minutes later, but failed to mount a comeback.

Espanyol suffered at the hands of Getafe once again this weekend. After knocking the Blanc i Blau out of the Copa del Rey last week, the Madrid-based side returned to grab a 2-0 win, with Carlos Kameni unable to keep the visitors at bay in the Espanyol goal. Derek Boateng of Ghana played the full 90 minutes in the middle of the park for the visitors without excelling.

Victor Obinna of Nigeria couldn't help the Andalusian side find their way off the foot of the Primera Liga table by beating Real Zaragoza at the Rosaleda, as the game finished level at 1-1 with the visitors unlucky not to claim all three points.

Paul Madden, Goal.com

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