The best and worst of African players abroad

Too Good: Achraf Hakimi

It was astounding that Antonio Conte left the wide defender on the bench when Inter Milan hosted Fiorentina, especially as Hakimi had been tipped to play a huge role in the former’s season.

However, with 26 minutes to play and Inter 3-2 down, the passionate Italian manager introduced the North African defender.

It took a while, but the right wing-back played in Romelu Lukaku for an easy finish to equalize in the 87th minute, before Danilo D'Ambrosio made it 4-3 two minutes later.

After impressing on his maiden appearance for the Nerazzurri, Inter are away at newly-promoted Benevento next weekend, and it would be a perfect game to start the Moroccan.

Too Bad: Wilfried Zaha

After last week’s dominant display against old side Manchester United, Zaha underwhelmed in Crystal Palace’s 2-1 defeat by in-form Everton in matchday three.

The Ivory Coast man’s finishing was not up to scratch and he also failed to beat his marker all game as the Toffees ended the Eagles’ 100 percent record in 2020/21.

With a daunting trip to wounded Chelsea next, Palace could find themselves on the receiving end of another defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Too Good: Franck Kessie

Kessie had an astonishing performance in AC Milan’s 2-0 win over new boys Crotone, netting a penalty in first-half stoppage time to open the scoring.

The Ghana midfielder’s impressive showing went beyond his spot-kick conversion in the opening 45, as he dominated in his duels — won 10 of 12 — and completed all six attempted dribbles.

Also, the West African got stuck in when necessary and was fairly accurate with his short and long-range passes.

Stefano Pioli’s team are second in the table after two wins from two, behind Gennaro Gattuso’s Napoli.

Too Bad: Romain Saiss

Wolverhampton Wanderers were thrashed 4-0 by West Ham United in a game many expected the visitors to win before kick-off.

Saiss was part of the rearguard that conceded four times at the London Stadium, thus ending Wolves’ four-game winning run over the Hammers in the Premier League.

West Ham hadn’t scored a single goal in those four head-to-head losses, so Sunday night’s defeat came a surprise to observers.

Too Good: Kalidou Koulibaly

Napoli picked up a hugely dominant 6-0 win over Genoa and K2 was one of the hosts’ better performers.

For the backline, marshalled by Koulibaly, Gli Azzurri kept another clean sheet after restricting the visitors to only six attempts all game with none on target.

The Senegal star put his body in the way of three of Genoa’s shots, won all but one of five duels and completed a high volume of passes on his team’s first game at Stadio San Paolo in 20/21.

Gennaro Gattuso’s side lead Serie A after two games with an unblemished record so far.