Africans to watch this weekend

Chelsea and Liverpool do battle in this weekend’s FA Cup with their African stars expected to play important roles in the final score.

In Italy, AC Milan are two games away from claiming a first Scudetto since 2011, a feat Ismael Bennacer and Franck Kessie could take them closer to against Atalanta on Sunday evening.

Cornet netted his eighth Premier League goal of the campaign last time out, but it was no more than a consolation for Burnley whose fine form under Mike Jackson was halted.

They travel to Champions League-chasing Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday knowing full well they could end the day in the bottom three if they are beaten and Leeds United win or draw their clash with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Will Cornet and co. stun Antonio Conte’s troops at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

Manchester City have responded brilliantly since their Champions League exit, scoring 10 goals in two games heading into this weekend’s clash with West Ham United.

Having played just 13 minutes from an available 180, there is a sense Mahrez starts at the London Stadium as the Cityzens chase a sixth league success on the spin to take them closer to another title.

Said Benrahma netted twice in last weekend’s 4-0 thrashing of relegated Norwich City and the Hammers could leapfrog sixth-placed Manchester United with a victory over the Cityzens.

Liverpool and Chelsea face off in another domestic final having battled in the League Cup decider in February, with the Reds winning on penalties on that occasion.

Edouard Mendy had an amazing game, although his form since that final has been beyond questionable.

The Blues goalkeeper will look to outdo in-form countryman Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita and Joel Matip at Wembley Stadium in a rematch of 2012’s final.

Chelsea do not have Didier Drogba’s Wembley heroics to bail them out this time, so supporters of the West London side will hope Mendy returns to his best form on Saturday.

Hellas Verona had thwarted AC Milan’s title aspirations in 1973 and 1990, so last week’s turnaround at the Bentegodi was just what the doctor ordered.

Kessie played for the game’s entirety while Bennacer was a second-half substitute in the 3-1 win and both midfield men ought to feature when the Rossoneri host Atalanta at San Siro.

Stefano Pioli’s troops have the edge on head-to-head, so a stalemate and an Inter Milan victory at relegation-threatened Cagliari will not see the African pair surrender top spot in Serie A.

After a seven-game run without keeping a clean sheet, Bono made two saves to prevent Mallorca from scoring in Wednesday’s goalless encounter at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

Julen Lopetegui’s troops travel to Atletico Madrid looking to claim maximum points after three stalemates on the trot, but Diego Simeone’s side stand in their way.

A win at the Wanda Metropolitano takes Sevilla back into third, thus sealing next year’s participation in the Champions League.