We pick the seven African stars to watch for the third round of the 2019-20 Turkish Super Lig season this weekend.
Joseph Attamah (Ghana) — Besiktas vs. Rizespor, Saturday 8.45 p.m GMT/6.45 p.m. CAT.
Versatile defensive player Attamah has made a strong impression at Rizespor following his loan from Basaksehir. The 25-year-old has been used as a deep-lying midfielder and enjoyed his first start of the season when Rizespor beat Sivasspor 2-1 at home last weekend. This time around Attamah will come up against the likes of Georges N’Koudou and Necip Uysal for their visit to Besiktas — watch delayed live on ESPN1 at 9.45 a.m. GMT/7.45 a.m. CAT on Sept. 1.
Olarenwaju Kayode (Nigeria) — Sivasspor vs. Gazisehir, Sunday 6.15 p.m GMT/4.15 p.m. CAT.
Two goals in as many appearances represents a great start to the 2019-20 Super Lig for Kayode, who netted in the 32nd and 40th minutes of Gazisehir’s impressive 4-1 home triumph over Genclerbirligi last weekend. This time around the Nigerian forward will look to get the better of Sivasspor’s Malian goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa.
Mustapha Yatabare (Mali) — Sivasspor vs. Gazisehir, Sunday 6.15 p.m GMT/4.15 p.m. CAT.
The Malian forward scored a brilliant goal for Sivasspor in the opening round, but was unable to find his mojo again for their 2-1 loss at Rizespor last weekend. The 33-year-old veteran is likely to come up against a defence featuring fellow Africans Papy Djilobodji and Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik.
Nabil Dirar (Morocco) — Fenerbahce vs. Trabzonspor, Sunday 8.45 p.m GMT/6.45 p.m. CAT.
Moroccan winger Dirar has been one of the star players of the Super Lig season so far, racking up two goals in as many appearances and a superb passing completion rate of 89.%. Alongside fellow Africans Victor Moses and Garry Rodrigues, Dirar will provide the creativity and attacking thrust for Fenerbahce.
Papiss Cisse (Senegal) — Malatyaspor vs. Alanyaspor, Sunday 8.45 p.m GMT/6.45 p.m. CAT.
Two wins from two for Alanyaspor at the start of the season, as they sit joint-top of the league alongside Fenerbahce, Denizlispor and Rizespor. The presence of veteran Senegalese striker Cisse, who has scored in both victories, gives their attack a major focal point for the likes of Djalma, Anastasios Bakasetas and Yacine Bammou to link up with.
Marc Kibong Mbamba (Cameroon) — Goztepe vs. Denizlispor, Saturday 8:45 p.m GMT/6.45 p.m. CAT.
It’s been four seasons since Cameroonian Mbamba has scored a Super Lig goal, but he has already played a major part in Denizlispor’s strong start to the campaign, registering an assist in each of their 2-0 wins over Antalyaspor and Galatasaray. He’ll feature prominently again on Saturday night in a trip to Goztepe’s Bornova Aziz Kocaoglu Stadium.
Mbaye Diagne (Senegal) — Kayserispor vs. Galatasaray, Friday 7.30 p.m GMT/5.30 p.m. CAT.
It’s been a barren start to the season for Galatasaray, who have opened the defence of their Super Lig title by claiming just one point from their first two matches. A man capable of turning around their fortunes is Senegalese forward Diagne, who appears to have something of a hangover from his time with the Teranga Lions at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, but will look to shake off the cobwebs with a strong showing against Kayserispor.