Zubairu's Hat-Trick Headlines a Strong Preseason Weekend for Africa's Exports

Ibrahim Zubairu returned from a lost season with a bang, scoring a hat-trick as FK Partizan beat Slovenian side NK Nafta 1903 4-1 in a preseason friendly on Saturday. The former Ghana youth international opened the scoring in the 17th minute and added two more in quick succession early in the second half.

A season to forget, finally behind him

Zubairu joined the eight-time Serbian SuperLiga champions from Jedinstvo Ub ahead of the 2024-25 season and scored 11 goals in his first campaign. A broken ankle wrecked the follow-up, limiting him to seven appearances and a single goal as Partizan finished third. A loan spell at Turkish second-tier side Çorum added only three substitute appearances, though Çorum still won promotion to the Süper Lig. Saturday's hat-trick was his clearest signal yet that he is back to full fitness heading into the new season.

Paintsil and Franculino also deliver

Joseph Paintsil scored the only goal as Los Angeles Galaxy beat Liga MX side Club América 1-0. The Ghana winger's club is on a mid-season break because of the World Cup and returns to MLS action against local rivals LAFC on Friday.

Guinea-Bissau forward Franculino helped FC Midtjylland to a 6-0 exhibition win over Cardiff City. The 22-year-old scored 22 goals in 34 appearances last season before knee injuries slowed him from the turn of the year, and he is reportedly attracting interest from Galatasaray and Real Betis ahead of the new campaign.

Elsewhere, Morocco international Couhaib Driouech scored for PSV Eindhoven in a 3-2 preseason win over Raków Częstochowa. With Ismael Saibari having left PSV for Bayern Munich and no replacement signed yet, Driouech, who produced nine goals and eight assists last season, could be in line for a bigger role.