African internationals scored a third of all EPL goals

The Africa Cup of Nations can be a worrying time for Premier League managers. But the affects of next season's edition of the tournament in Gabon could be felt more than ever before.

That is what the opening weekend of fixtures would have you believe anyway.
African internationals were responsible for netting a third of the 30 goals scored during the first round of Premier League games.

Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure looked back to his old self as Manchester City brushed aside West Bromwich Albion on Monday night with a comfortable 3-0 victory at the Hawthorns.

Toure, along with David Silva, was the driving force behind the win and scored twice - officially, that is. His opener, that appeared to deflect off Silva on its way past Boaz Myhill, may be scrutinised by the Dubious Goals Panel.

There was no controversy surrounding the second though as the 32-year-old strode elegantly to meet Wilfried Bony's lay-off before curling an effort into the top corner.

On Saturday Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez stole the show as Leicester got the Claudio Ranieri reign off to the perfect start with a 4-2 win against Sunderland at the King Power Stadium.

The 24-year-old former Le Havre midfielder, who impressed for the Foxes in their miraculous survival act last season, netted a brace of his own as Leicester led 3-0 after just 25 minutes.

Senegal international midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate was on target for West Ham as they stunned Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates on Sunday.

The 25-year-old midfielder beat Petr Cech to the ball to head the Hammers in front as they recorded a famous opening day victory against Arsene Wenger's in-form side.

Everton's Ivory Coast striker Arouna Kone was the hero at Goodison Park after netting a late equaliser against newly-promoted Watford to rescue an opening day point.

That was only after Nigeria international Odion Ighalo appeared to have won it for Quique Sanchez Flores' side after coming off the bench to put Watford 2-1 ahead.

FULL LIST OF AFRICAN SCORERS

• Andre Ayew (Chelsea vs SWANSEA)
  
• Riyad Mahrez, 2 (LEICESTER vs Sunderland)
  
• Arouna Kone (EVERTON vs Watford)
  
• Odion Ighalo (Everton vs WATFORD)
  
• Rudy Gestede (Bournemouth vs VILLA)
  
• Papiss Cisse (NEWCASTLE vs Southampton)
  
• Cheikhou Kouyate (Arsenal vs WEST HAM)
  
• Yaya Toure, 2 (West Brom vs MAN CITY)

Total goals by Africans = 10
Total Premier League goals = 30
Europe = 14 goals
South America = 3 goals
North and Central America = 1 goal

The 26-year-old picked up where he left off last season after ending the 2014-15 campaign with a flurry of goals to help Watford win promotion to the top flight.

There was a debut goal for Rudy Gestede as Aston Villa beat Premier League new boys Bournemouth 1-0 at Dean Court. The Benin international joined Tim Sherwood's side from Championship side Blackburn earlier this summer for £6million.

Ghana forward Andre Ayew also made a good first impression in England after netting against Premier League champions Chelsea on his Swansea debut.
The former Marseille man equalised for Garry Monk's side to make it 1-1 at Stamford Bridge before the Swans went on to earn a credible 2-2 draw with Jose Mourinho's side.

Newcastle and Senegal striker Papiss Cisse also got himself on the scoresheet as the North-East club were held to a 2-2 draw with Southampton at St James' Park on Sunday.

Players from Europe accounted for 14 goals while Philippe Coutinho, Oscar and Mauro Zarate were the only South Americans on target. Mexico international Miguel Layun netted for Watford and is the only North and Cenrtal American scorer of the weekend. There were also two own goals.

Ross Barkley, Jermaine Defoe, Jamie Vardy, Marc Albrighton, Nathan Redmond and Wilfried Zaha were the only English players to score.