France’s Ligue 1 started its season this past weekend and there were plenty of headlines created by African national team players during the slate of matches. Ghanaian €20 million transfer Kamaldeen Sulemana scored Sunday to make it a picturesque debut for Stade Rennais and mark a dream start after arriving from FC Nordsjælland in Danish football, as the 19-year-old scored an impressive opener on 14 minutes before Ivorian midfielder Seko Fofana equalized for Rens a few minutes later in a match that ended 1-1.
Algerian international Islam Slimani saved his Olympique Lyonnais side from an embarrassing home defeat by netting the equalizer only minutes after coming on as a substitute against Brest earlier this weekend on Saturday. Attacking right back Achraf Hakimi made it a scoring league debut for PSG to help them storm back from an early deficit to defeat Troyes 2-1, the Moroccan more than justifying his move from Inter Milan.
Later on during the busy set of games on Sunday, promoted side Clermont’s form rolled on from a promising pre-season into a dream start in their road victory against Bordeaux. Striker Mohamed Bayo earned a recent international debut for Guinea because of his exploits as the leading scorer in Ligue 2, and he picked up where he left off last season with a goal on his Ligue 1 debut. Benin national team contributor Jodel Dossou capped off the Clermont victory with a late strike to make it 2-0.
Ivorian defender Ismaël Traoré opened the scoring for Amiens in their 2-0 road win over Strasbourg with Cameroon national team member Stéphane Bahoken scoring late on as a substitute to wrap up the three points. Playmaker Wahbi Khazri provided his contribution with a penalty kick conversion for Saint Etienne in a 1-1 draw against Lorient.
Check out video of all the goals in Ligue 1 this weekend from African national team members below by clicking on the links.
