Didier Drogba missed several key chances as Chelsea were beaten

The English Premier League is usually a hot-bed of African goalscorers but not so this weekend.

Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast was given the responsibility of leading the line for Chelsea in their crucial top of the table meeting with Manchester United - but instead of the back of the net, all he found was fresh air.

He missed Chelsea's only chances in a woeful team performance, which was exemplified by Nigeria's Jon Mikel Obi.

None of their African colleagues in England or Scotland registered a score this weekend - including Egypt's Amr Zaki, who missed several chances as Wigan took on Tottenham Hotspur, but he was rescued by a late winner to give Wigan a 1-0 win.

Mali's Mamadou Samassa headed the opening goal for Olympic Marseille who beat Auxerre 2-0 on Saturday evening.

But his fellow countryman Mamadou Bagayoko was sent-off in the second half despite scoring the opening goal for Nantes who won 2-1 at Monaco.

Moussa Sow from Senegal scored the lone goal winner for Rennes who edged passed Grenoble.

Another Senegalese, Souleymane Diawara gave Bordeaux the lead when they trounced Paris Saint-Germain 4-0.

However there was a sending off for Mustapha Sall whose side Saint Etienne lost 1-0 at Sochaux.

There was only one African goalscorer in Portugal this weekend as Modou Sogou of Senegal scored a late goal for his side Academica Coimbra.

But it was too late to save the team as they went down 2-1 at Naval.

Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto'o scored the opening goal for Barcelona just before half-time as the league leaders beat Osasuna 3-2.

Fellow Cameroonian Achille Emana equalised for Real Betis in the 38th minute in their home game against Malaga but was sent-off in the second half following a second booking. Malaga went on to win 2-1.

Nigeria's Kalu Uche was the hero for Almeria as his two goals gave his side a 2-0 lead but opponents Espanyol drew level to tie the game 2-2.

Deportivo La Coruna's on-fire Equatorial Guinea international striker Rodolfo Bodipo put his side in front after 34 minutes at home to Sevilla, although they eventually went down 3-1 to their in the end.

Dame Ndoye was on target for OFI Crete with the opening goal of the match against Iraklis Saloniki, but the Senegalese could not save his side from losing 3-2 in the end.

Algeria's Rafik Djebbour was author of the lone goal victory for his side AEK Athens who beat Paok Salonika.

The other African in the goals in the Greek Super League was scored by the Ghanaian Bernard Kumurdzi who sealed victory for Panionios in their 2-0 win over Panserraikos.

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