Spain

Mali striker Frederic Kanoute was at his clinical best on Sunday as Africans contributed important performances and decisive goals throughout the European soccer leagues.

Kanoute pounced after only 10 minutes to score the opening goal in Sevilla's stunning 3-0 victory over Valencia in the Spanish Primera Liga, the club's first under the guidance of hastily-installed manager Manolo Jimenez.

Kanoute showed his new boss what he is capable of, turning smartly before driving a right-foot shot into the bottom right corner of the net for his fifth league goal of the season.

Elsewhere in Spain, Cape Verde striker Dady scored twice in six minutes to earn Osasuna an unlikely point at home to Real Valladolid.

Valladolid led 2-0 until 26-year-old striker Dady swept home a left-wing cross in the 72nd minute and then completed the comeback with a low 18-metre effort.

Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure, the younger brother of Kolo Toure of Arsenal, returned for Barcelona after missing three weeks with a thigh injury and his power and finesse showed through immediately in a 2-0 win over Almeria.

In the English Premier League, former champions Chelsea went on the rampage with African players supplying four of the goals in a 6-0 demolition of Manchester City.

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien set Chelsea on their way, latching on to a Frank Lampard pass to open the scoring before two goals from Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba put the result beyond doubt.

Drogba's countryman Salomon Kalou was also on target.

Everton manager David Moyes was full of praise for Yakubu Aiyegbeni after the Nigerian created one goal and scored the other in his team's 2-0 win at Derby County.

The Nigerian's clever dummy set up Mikel Arteta to open the scoring and then he calmly converted a one-on-one opportunity to round things off in the second half.

But it was not such a happy afternoon for Zimbabwean striker Benjani Mwaruwari who missed a penalty that would have secured Portsmouth all three points in a 0-0 draw with West Ham United.

Benjani, the Premier League's top scorer with seven goals, missed the spot kick deep into added time at Fratton Park.

Samba and McCarthy celebrate Blackburn's victory

DR Congo defender Christopher Samba curled in a brilliant stoppage-time winner to help Blackburn Rovers to a 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur.

South African forward Benni McCarthy scored his fifth league goal of the season to pull Rovers level before Samba struck from 18 metres to maintain the Lancashire team's fine start to the season.

Benin striker Stephane Sessegnon scored for Le Mans in their 1-1 at home to Toulouse and Gabonese striker Eric Mouloungi opened the scoring for Racing Strasbourg in their 3-0 win at Lille.

Senegalese forward Mamadou Niang was also on target at the weekend, but his goal for Olympique Marseille was in vain as Sochaux fought back to win 2-1.

And despite an own-goal from Niang's countryman Souleymane Diawara, Girondins Bordeaux managed a 2-1 victory over Valenciennes.

In Italy's Serie A, Ghanaian marksman Asamoah Gyan scored the only goal of the game in Udinese's win at Lazio.

In the Scottish Premier League, a penalty from Gabonese forward Daniel Cousin could not prevent Glasgow Rangers sinking to a 2-1 defeat at Dundee United.

Algerian striker Rafik Djebbour was on target twice for his side Panionios scoring both of them in the second-half.

Panionios came from a goal down to beat Larisa 3-1. The globe-trotting Ivorian striker Ibrahima Bakayoko had put Larisa ahead just before half-time.

Shabani Nonda was the hero, after he scored the winning and opening goals for his side Galatasaray who beat Denizlispor 2-1.

The DR Congo striker scored the winner from the penalty spot.

The win keeps Galatasaray at the top with 24 points ahead of Sivasspor on 22.

Trabzonspor played the last 24 minutes with 10 men after the sending-off of their Guinean striker Ibrahim Yattara.

Trabzonspor lost 1-0 away at Kayserispor.

Nigerian Joseph Akpala scored the winner as his side Charleroi beat FC Brussels 2-1.

Akpala is joint top scorer with Cameroon's Bertin Tomou, who took his tally to seven goals after his hat-trick for Mouscron who beat Dender 3-0.

Sierra Leonean Paul Kpaka scored the opening goal for Roulers who defeated St Truiden 2-0.

Dieumerci Mbokani also found the back of the net for league leaders Standard Liege who drew 2-2 with visiting Mechelen.

Despite scoring an own-goal, Ghanaian midfielder Gyan King was on the winning side of Beerschot who beat Westerlo 2-1.

Both goals in the 1-1 draw between Zulte-Waregem and Lokeren were by Africans.

Senegalese Mbaye Leye put Waregem ahead in the 43rd minute and Moroccan Hassan Mouataz levelled from the penalty spot in the 57th minute.