Cameroon midfielder André-Frank Zambo Anguissa opened the scoring for SSC Napoli against AS Roma with an acrobatic volley, ending almost a year without a goal in competitive football.
This Saturday, 24 October 2026, at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa opened the scoring in the clash between SSC Napoli and AS Roma with a splendid acrobatic volley, according to Foot Africa. Above all, the Cameroon international midfielder ends a drought of almost a year without finding the back of the net in competitive football.
Napoli were coming off a 1-0 defeat on the pitch at Venezia on matchday 7, and the day’s opponents were riding high at the top with 17 points from seven matches. This game counted for matchday 8 of the Italian Serie A, with kick-off at 16:00 UTC, or 18:00 local time.
A volley to end the drought
The context makes this goal even more valuable. On Tuesday, Napoli had won 4-3 in the European Cup against FK Bodø/Glimt, inspired by a Scott McTominay brace. In the league, however, the club had lost at Venezia.
Finding the back of the net again in a top-of-the-table clash, against the team setting the pace in the standings, has a special value for the midfielder.
Ndicka on the other side
In the opposing camp, another African international was involved. Evan Ndicka, the Ivorian centre-back at AS Roma, was called up and started in the heart of the Roma defence, according to Sport News Africa. The two African internationals therefore played in the same match, one in the Napoli midfield, the other in the centre of the Roma defence.
The capital club went into this away trip with a side missing several key players, according to Sport News Africa. This information is reported only by that outlet and should therefore be treated with caution. It does, however, shed light on the shape of a clash in which Roma, the leaders, had to cope with those absences.
A gap to close
Before kick-off, the hierarchy was clear: 10 points from seven matches for Napoli, against 17 for Roma, thanks to five wins and two draws. According to Sport News Africa, this top-of-the-table clash allows the Napoli club to close the gap on the leading group headed by the Romans.
SSC Napoli will return to Serie A in the middle of next week, for matchday 9.