UAE: African stars move Baniyas Club off the bottom

Baniyas Club are no longer the bottom side in the UAE Pro League after Leonel Wamba, Saviour Godwin and Youssoufou Niakate all scored in Friday’s 4-1 victory at Al Sharjah.

Cameroonian striker Wamba, formerly a player at Algerian giants CR Belouizdad, scored his first two goals in the UAE Pro League to end a 20-match scoreless streak in the Emirati top flight. Nigerian attacker Saviour Godwin also scored his first goal for the club from the penalty spot while Malian forward Niakate added to his total with the club.

Wamba, who endured a disastrous start to life in the UAE with Al Wahda last season, finally broke through in the league on his seventh appearance on loan at Baniyas. In the 3rd minute, the Cameroonian showed his goal scoring instincts after the Sharjah defense failed to clear Niakate’s cross before doubling his tally in the 37th minute with a splendid volley.

Saviour scored his first league goal for the club from the spot on the hour mark and a first league victory of the season was secured for Baniyas Club. Niakate, a prolific scorer for the club in his third season, finalized the scoring late on before Sharjah found a consolation goal.

After seven league matches without a victory, Baniyas Club now have four points from eight matches and are out of the two-team relegation zone. They return to action on December 20 after a month-long break with a fixture against Khorfakkan.