It was a thrilling weekend of football across the European leagues, with African players making a huge impact as usual. Here is BBC Sport's weekly run-down of Africa's finest in action.

El Hamdaoui has scored 22 goals in the league so far this season

Moroccan striker Mounir El Hamdaoui is celebrating with his AZ Alkmaar team after they claimed the title this weekend.

They were actually beaten 2-1 by Vitesse Arnhem on Saturday despite a Hamdoui goal - but Ajax's 6-2 defeat at the hands of PSV meant they can't be caught at the top.

Hamdoui has played a huge role in their success with 22 goals in the campaign.

Elsewhere, Ivorian Sekou Cisse gave Roda JC the lead but his side drew 1-1 at Nijmegen and his fellow Ivorian, midfielder Cheikh Tiote was sent-off late in the game as his side FC Twente finished with nine men and lost 1-0 to 10-man Feyenoord.

It was FA Cup semi-final weekend in England, and on Saturday one of continent's biggest stars Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast struck to put Chelsea through to the final.

Drogba scored the winner for the Blues over Arsenal, so the Ivorian plus Michael Essien, Jon Mikel Obi and co are all in the final next month, leaving Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Emmanuel Adebayor wondering what might have been.

Drogba scored the winner that sent Chelsea into the FA Cup final

In the other semi final there were no goals for the whole of normal and extra-time, and Everton's Steven Pienaar of South Africa was just a spectator in the penalty shoot-out as his side scraped through against Manchester United.

Nigeria's Joseph Yobo was on the bench - both have a chance of appearing in the final.

In the Premier League was just the one African goal but a pair of Portsmouth stars teamed up for a crucial late winner for them.

Algeria's Nadir Belhadj provided the corner and Kanu got the faintest touch to give Portsmouth 3 points and move them up to 14th in the table.

There was a debut Serie A goal for Ghanaian midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah - who struck in the 10th minute goal of Udinese's 3-1 win over Fiorentina.

Udinese moved up to 10th place in the table.

Barcelona's Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o missed an open goal as the runaway leaders beat Getafe by a goal to nil - but his compatriot Achile Emana got both goals as his Real Betis side beat Sporting Gijon 2-0.

Emana now has 11 strikes for the season.

Nancy defeated Caen 2-1 with Moroccan midfielder Youssouf Hadji scoring in the first minute to take his tally to 10 goals in the season.

A goal each from Malian Mamadou Bagayoko and Cameroonian Christian Bekamenga gave Nantes a 2-0 win over 10-man Nice.

And at the top of the table, Marseilles - who feature players like Nigeria's Taye Taiwo , Senegal's Mamadou Niang and Modeste Mbami of Cameroon - stretched their lead over Lyon and Bordeaux with a 2-1 win over Dede Ayew 's Lorient.

Anele Ngongca from South Africa was on the score sheet to give Racing Genk the lead in their 2-2 draw with Gent.

Kwadwo Asamoah scored his first Serie A goal on Sunday

Nigeria's Joseph Akpala equalised for Club Bruges before half-time as they trailed twice to Mons before winning 3-2.

Gambia's Mustapha Jarju had given Mons the lead and Senegalese Moussa Gueye put them back in front on the stroke of half-time but things went downhill after the expulsion of Algerian Fadel Brahami .

Zimbabwean midfielder Vuza Nyoni scored the only goal of the game as Cercle Bruges beat Mechelen and Geoffrey Bia from DR Congo put Charleroi in the front but they lost 3-1 to Tubize.

Cameroonian midfielder Ernest Nfor scored one of the goals for Zulte-Waregem in the 5-1 win over Kortrijk and Moroccan Abdesallam Benjellou n pulled a goal back for Roulers who lost 3-1 at Dender.

Nigerian striker Julius Aghahowa equalised for Kayserispor three minutes after half-time but he was sent-off in the 68th minute as his side lost 2-1 to Antalyaspor.

Serge Djiehoua of Ivory Coast had put Antalyaspor ahead.

Egyptian Abdel Zaher El Saka equalised for Eskisehirspor just before the interval but his side lost 3-2 at Ankaragucu.

And Guinean Ibrahim Yattara gave Trabzonspor the lead as they beat Genclerbirligi 2-0.

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