Jupiler Pro League recap: Kanga dominates with hat-trick, Guiagon continues strong form

Round 22 from Belgium’s top division Jupiler Pro League finished up on Sunday and it was Ivorian attackers Wilfried Kanga and Parfait Guiagon who were the stars among African players over the weekend.

Former Hertha Berlin striker Kanga has now scored four goals in his last two Pro League matches after producing a hat-trick in KAA Gent’s 4-0 dismantling of hosts Standard Liège on Friday.

 

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The 27-year-old former BSC Young Boys star showed some mercy in that he did not celebrate his dominance against Standard, a recognition of his successful loan spell at the club during the 2023-24 season. However, he did not hesitate to put the opposition defense to the sword and appears to be finding his form after a difficult 2024-25 season.

After only managing 3 goals in 32 matches across all competitions in a season split with Dinamo Zagreb and on loan at Cardiff City, Kanga now has 8 goals and 3 assists in 18 Pro League matches this campaign. Gent will hope the powerfully-built forward can continue to fulfill his potential after their third straight league win pushed them into 5th place on the table.

As for Guiagon, the 24-year-old is well established at this point with Charleroi, who he helped to a 2-0 victory at Royal Antwerp with a second half penalty kick on Sunday.

The 24-year-old, who likes to operate as a playmaker on the left wing, has emerged as one of the most influential maestro’s in the Belgian top flight and he continues to live up to the expectations that come with wearing the #10 shirt.

A player who was given high attention as a youth player after developing at Abidjan club Africa Sports, Guiagon earned his first appearances for the Ivory Coast national team last year and is on course for his most productive season in his club career. He now has 10 goals and 2 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions this season for 7th place Charleroi.