The 2015-16 season of the English Premier League began this past weekend with all of the teams in the English top flight playing their opening matches of the campaign.

Numerous African players were on the score sheet for their respective club sides, contributing immensely to their teams’ fortunes.

On Saturday Ghanaian Andre Ayew made his Premier League debut with new side Swansea City, and he was instrumental in their 2-2 away draw with current champions Chelsea.

The midfielder pounced to score an equalising goal at 1-1, and played well to help his club claim their first ever away point at Stamford Bridge.

In Leicester City’s 4-2 victory against Sunderland an outstanding Riyad Mahrez scored two goals and made sure that his personal season got off to the best possible start.

The Algerian scored with a header to make it 2-0 before scoring his club’s third from a penalty he won after being brought down in the area by Lee Cattermole.

Everton’s 2-2 home draw against Watford saw African goalscorers for both sets of opponents, with Nigerian Odion Ighalo’s 83rd minute strike for Watford equalised by Ivorian Arouna Kone’s effort four minutes from time.

In Saturday’s game between Premier League rookies Bournemouth and Aston Villa the villains emerged on top thanks to a 72nd minute strike from new boy from Benin, Rudy Gestede. His powerful header handed his side a 1-0 victory.

West Ham defeated Arsenal at the Emirates in Sunday EPL action, with Senegal’s Cheikhou Kouyate scoring the opener for the Hammers after a mistake from Petr Cech. The score would end at 2-0 in favour of the visitors.

Newcastle United drew 2-2 with visiting Southampton on Sunday, with Senegal striker Papiss Cisse scoring for the home side to make it 1-1 in the first half, with the final score remaining as a stalemate.

West Brom hosts Manchester City on Monday evening, with Wilfried Bony and Yaya Toure representing the African contingent for the visitors in that encounter, while Nigerians Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe join Stephane Sessegnon of Benin in the ranks of West Brom.