Nicolas Jackson scored twice as African players made a significant impact during the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase on 13 and 14 October 2026.
The Senegal forward struck twice in Aston Villa’s emphatic 6-0 victory over Fenerbahce on Wednesday, providing the most notable performance by a player from the continent.
Jackson opened his account in the 31st minute after being set up by Boubacar Kamara. He added a second goal eight minutes later, giving Aston Villa a commanding advantage before half-time.
The result was an especially productive evening for Senegalese players, with Jackson joined in the Aston Villa attack by international team-mate Ibrahim Mbaye.
Mbaye started on the left and supplied the assist for Ross Barkley’s 72nd-minute goal, Aston Villa’s fifth of the match. The young winger was later withdrawn, but his contribution ensured both Senegal internationals played a decisive role in the victory.
On Tuesday, Algeria forward Anis Hadj Moussa also found the net in the competition. He scored Feyenoord’s second goal against Como with a composed finish after dribbling past several defenders.
Feyenoord went on to win 3-2, while the goal marked Hadj Moussa’s first in the UEFA Champions League and an important milestone in his European career.
Como had taken the lead through another Senegalese player, Assane Diao, although his evening was cut short. Diao scored in the opening stages against Feyenoord but was forced off in the 23rd minute, only moments after finding the net. Como ultimately lost the match 3-2.
Iliman Ndiaye was the other Senegal international to make an attacking contribution on Wednesday. The Manchester City forward provided the assist for Erling Haaland during his side’s 4-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.
Ndiaye came on after half-time and helped Manchester City reduce the deficit, but his involvement was not enough to prevent defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.
Across the two matchdays, Jackson’s double, Hadj Moussa’s landmark goal and the assists from Mbaye and Ndiaye highlighted the influence of African internationals in the league phase. Their teams, however, experienced contrasting outcomes, with Aston Villa and Feyenoord securing victories while Como and Manchester City were beaten.
