Africa is the hometown of many football legends in the world such as Roger Milla, Jay-Jay Okocha or Samuel Eto’o. In recent years, young African players have also made stellar records. As a result, clubs have established more and more player recruitment networks in this region. Many young names have appeared and hope to create new things for world football. 

Which African football team do you admire? Algieria, Senegal, Nigeria,… They are all excellent teams that are loved by fans. African football is popular with the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) held every 2 years. Follow Africa Cup of Nations football live matches, final results, fixtures and standings at bongdatructuyen.site! 

Below is the list of top 10 young African football players in the world right now. 

Top 10 young African football players 

1. Mohamed Camara (2000 –  Red Bull Salzburg)

Mohamed Camara is a young player from the JMG academy in Bamako. After a period of training here, he moved to play for his hometown club Real Bamako. In 2017, he became captain of the Mali U-17 team. He led the team and won glory in the Cup of African Nations. 

During the FIFA World Cup U-17 tournament in India, he was also impressed when he guided Mali to a fourth-place finish. 

After signing a contract and moving to RB Salzburg, Camara continued to develop his capabilities and became a regular main player here. Many people rate Camera with outstanding maturity, possessing the excellent property of retaining and recycling possession. He is really a midfielder with a lot of potential in the future.

2. Lassina Traore (2001 – Ajax Amsterdam)

Younger football player Lassina Traore had a period at the legendary Ajax academy. He is also the cousin of Bertrand Traore. Lassina’s reputation has grown in popularity after he has scored many goals for Ajax this season. 

In the 2019-2020 season, he only scored 2 goals. He has made remarkable progress in recent times, scoring 7 goals and six assists in 10 appearances in this tournament. Lassina’s performance has also been shown very well in the national team’s, with 5 goals in 12 appearances for Burkina Faso. In the 13-0 win over Ajax against VVV-Venlo, he contributed 8 goals. 

Lassina is a promising striker. He often used his qualities to penetrate the penalty area and become a shield for the opponent’s defender. This player is considered a very promising factor in the Ajax training academy.

3. Youssouf Hadji (2001 – Club Brugge)

Youssouph Badji is a new name in African football. This is a talent that emerged from Senegal. In January 2020, he moved to the European football club Brugge. Here, he has had a remarkable record, scoring goals for the club against KAS Eupen and contributing to the victory over Grenk. 

As a young player, Badji has to work a lot to be able to take a position in the main squad of the team. Currently, manager Phillippe Clement often uses him in the latter part of the match to hope that he will make a difference at the end of the match.

4. Samuel Chukwueze (1999 – Villarreal FC)

Young player Samuel Chukwueze has joined and been with Villareal FC for several seasons. He is a good winger. He has a great capability of cutting the ball with his left foot and kicking the ball from a far distance. Because of these characteristics, many people compare Chukwueze’s style of play with the way of Dutch striker Arjen Robben. 

This player has a very physical endurance. His primary position in the squad is the winger. However, the coach Unai Emery wants him to take more responsibility, so he often sends him to play as the support striker. 

The only problem Chukwueze needs to improve is consistency and the ability to make quick decisions in the last minutes of the match.

5. Krepin Diatta (1999 – Club Brugge)

Krepin Diatta joined the Brugge club in 2018. Since then, the Senegalese player has shown steady progress in his play. Diatta was from the Oslo academy in Dakar. In 2017, he joined Norway’s top tier outfit Sarpsborg. Then, he moved to kick in Breydel’s stadium a year later.

Diatta is a right-winger, but he can still function on the left and even behind the striker. He has a skilful bubble play, a wide range of movement with the advantage of passing balls or passing the ball through defenders. 

In the most recent season, Diatta contributed 2/3 of the goals for coach Phillippe Clement’s team. His tendency to penetrate the penalty area has increased and the quality of the shot has also improved a lot.

6. Amadou Haidara (1998 – RB Leipzig) 

Amadou Haidara’s soccer career also began at the JMG training academy in Bamako. In 2016, he joined RB Salzburg club and became an indispensable member of the midfield squad. 

In 2019, this player moved to RB Leipzig. Here, he has made a positive mark. Under the tutelage of coach Julian Nagelsmann, Haidara develops physical and football play. 

Haidara specializes in defense. In some cases, he can also play in an attacking position. He is a player who is not too outstanding physically but he is highly appreciated for his speed on the football field. In addition, the ball cuts or transmissions are also highly valued for their effectiveness and creating a connection with other members of the team.

7. Youssoufa Moukoko (2004 – Borussia Dortmund)

Youssoufa Moukoko made his first appearance at the age of 16. He participated in the youth level tournament where he scored goals and was promoted to the first team at Signal Iduna Park. He was commented to have a timely explosion in the last third of the match. Maukoko also has the ability to score goals and handles ball situations quite subtly. 

Although just over the age of 16, Moukoko has shown his remarkable points. This is the reason that in Dortmund, this guy is appreciated with many prospects in the future. 

The most important now for this youngster is his ability to adapt to tournaments at a higher level. In addition, developing and shaping a long-term stable football play is a matter that this player should focus on in the near future.

8. Edmond Tap Soba (1999 – Bayer Leverkusen)

Edmond Tapsoba started his career in Burkina. He later moved to Portugal and joined the Vitoria Guimaraes team. Which contributed to a complete change in his career. 

After making a strong impression while in the reserve squad, he was promoted to the first team at Vitoria Guimaraes. The player is still young but has quickly become a mainstay in the team’s defense center. He and his club participated in Liga Nos and other Europa League tournaments. 

The coach Peter Bozx praised Tapsoba’s play. He has a calm demeanor and is comfortable controlling the ball at his feet. At the same time, this player is also appreciated for fitness. This makes him a remarkable and promises center-back and in Vitoria Guimaraes

9. Victor Osimhen (1998 – Napoli)

Edmond Tapsoba started his career in Burkina. He later moved to Portugal and joined the Vitoria Guimaraes team. Which contributed to a complete change in his career. 

After making a strong impression while in the reserve squad, he was promoted to the first team at Vitoria Guimaraes. The player is still young, but has quickly become a mainstay in the team’s defense center. He and his club participated in Liga Nos and other Europa League tournaments. 

The coach Peter Bozx praised Tapsoba’s play. He has a calm demeanor and is comfortable controlling the ball at his feet. At the same time, this player is also appreciated for fitness. This makes him a remarkable and promises center-back and in Vitoria Guimaraes

10. Ismael Bennacer (1997 – AC Milan)

Ismael Bennacer is a young central midfielder with a dynamic and technical mindset. This guy started his career at Athletic Club Arles in France. Then he took some time to move to Arsenal’s youth academy. At AC Milan, this player has shown a very good performance. However, this creates more pressure because he must always break through to get over his own shadow. 

This player also had time to play at Empoli. Here, he learned many experiences on the pitch. This has contributed to shape the way he plays football now. After moving to AC Milan. He continued to practice both his football play and his fitness. 

Bennacer is a good midfielder. He can play as a dribbler, hold the ball or make breakthroughs when needed.

To sum up

Despite their young age, these players are considered to be very promising in the future. Let’s wait and see the next time, what changes will they make to assert their foothold and make a difference in world football.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr says the Super Eagles of Nigeria desire to be the number one ranked team by FIFA after the latest ranking placed them as 3rd in Africa.

Yesterday FIFA published the latest rankings for the month of April with Nigeria retaining their position as 3rd in Africa after placing 32nd in the world.

Senegal and Tunisia were the only African teams rated higher than the Super Eagles is Nigeria but Rohr insist the aim of his team is to be the number one in Africa.

“ When I arrived we were out of the top ten in Africa that was 2016. Now we have just two teams ahead of us but we want to be top. It’s not going to be easy because other teams are also improving”, Rohr told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“ The result we want is to continue to work hard and be the number one in Africa with results and also big performance when we play competitive and friendly games”.

24 year old Danish midfielder Philip Billing has voiced his frustration at missing out of the Danish team for the Euros despite the fine season he had at Bournemouth.

Billing has only played once for Denmark but he was hoping he will make the squad for the European Championship particularly after his decision to snub a chance to switch nationality to Nigeria.

He is eligible for Nigeria through his father who is from the West African country but after an exclusive by this portal , he denied approaching the Nigerian team for a call up claiming he is 100% Danish.

However few months later, coach of the Nigerian team Rohr revealed the player’s agent contacted him and they had talks about playing for Nigeria as reported by Owngoalnigeria.com. Billing this time around didn’t refute it.

Speaking on the backdrop of his failure to make the Danish team for the Euros, he said he feels disappointed by the snub and revealed that he is now considering making a u-turn on his decision to play for Denmark ahead of Nigeria.

“I have talked to the coach several times, so it is something I have thought more about after I have not been selected for the European Championships, says Billing to bt.dk.

“ There will also soon be a World Cup that I will have to think about. I am almost 25 years old and I have only played one international match. I also have something I would like to achieve in my career.

Billing played just 72 minutes in his only senior game for Denmark which was a friendly game won 4-0 against Faroe Island in October 2020 making him eligible to switch to Nigeria. A switch which he said he will consider with the World Cup fast approaching.

Despite Bournemouth missing out on promotion, Billing was one of their stars playing a total of 36 games where he scored 8 goals and also had six assists.

I have seen so much with DBU and the national team in recent years, so I did not expect to come to the European Championships, but I was hoping for that. It’s the European Championships, and it’s huge. And then right in Denmark. It’s a boy’s dream, says Billing.

Fresh from becoming the first African woman to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League Asisat Oshoala has jumped in on the men’s final which will take place this Saturday between Manchester City and Chelsea.

Oshoala was a part of the Barcelona Femenino who blew Chelsea 4-0 to lift the Women’s Champions League on the 17th of May. The 26 year old played as a second half substitute in the game.

Yesterday she sent her words of congratulations to Samuel Chukwueze who lifted the UEFA Europa League following Villarreal’s 11-10 win over Manchester United on penalties after both teams stayed locked at 1-1 after extra time.

“ I’d like City to beat Chelsea in UCL final but it’s a season to support our brothers and sisters. Go Tammy”, a follower with the name Anijah Augustine posted under her congratulatory message to Chukwueze.

“ Let’s be guided ooo….Tammy deny us ooo🙄🙄🙄”, She replied referring to the decision of the Chelsea striker to snub Nigeria for England despite the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announcing that he has agreed to play for Nigeria.

A comment which as expected generated a lot of reactions from Nigerians who are fans of both teams ahead of the Saturday showpiece.

23 year old Nigerian Theophilus Ugwu has been sentenced to death in Vietnam for attempting to smuggle drugs from Cambodia to Vietnam.

He was arrested in March last year when he was found transporting 12 bags containing meth from Cambodia to Vietnam in Tay Ninh’s Ben Cau District. The meth weighed around 5.92KG.

Speaking after the arrest he confessed that he came to Cambodia last year February to start his professional footballer career but in March he got close to another African, who promised to help him play for a top club in Cambodia.

The said African gave him a bag to deliver in Vietnam using a route that is less travelled but he was busted by the police and in court he admitted that he got $1,000 to transport the bag but didn’t know that it contained drugs.

Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or cocaine or over 2.5 kg of methamphetamine could face capital punishment. Production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of any other illegal substance is also punishable by death.

Former assistant coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Daniel Amokachi has hit back at claims made by former Super Eagles midfielder Raheem Lawal on why he was dropped from the team that won AFCON 2013.

The former Osmanlispor midfielder alleged that head coach Stephen Keshi wanted to take him to the tournament but it was Amokachi who blocked it in favour of players he has interest in.

Lawal in a series of rant of social media accused the coach of masterminding his axing from the squad in favour of players that he want to use the tournament as an avenue to trade.

Amokachi who was very influential as assistant to Keshi refuted the allegations saying Lawal who was then based in Turkey lack the discipline the team need to progress at a tournament like that.

“ I showed the news to Amokachi and he laughed over it before telling me that Lawal is being economical with the truth. He said the main reason was indiscipline. Everyone who knows him can testify”, a source close to the coach told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“ Same Lawal played for the team for two years after the tournament with Amokachi as assistant. He knows he is not saying the truth. That team was built on discipline, unity of purpose and togetherness. He lacked all three.

“ It’s not in Amokachi’s style to hit back at spurious and unfounded allegations. Lawal played for Nigeria in 2016, three years after the AFCON triumph and same issue of indiscipline restricted him to just 47 minutes in the friendly games against Mali and Luxembourg respectively. He never got a look in since then”, he concluded.

Coach of Villarreal Unai Emery has dropped Nigeria international winger Samuel Chukwueze from his squad for tomorrow’s Europa League final against Manchester United.

Chukwueze picked up an injury in their second leg semi final clash against Arsenal putting his participation in the final in doubt, he however returned to training a lot earlier than expected.

Despite his return he was in a race against time to be fit for the game and it appears he has fallen short of the time he need to be properly fit for the game as he wasn’t included in their squad list for the game tomorrow.

He will travel with the rest of the team to Gdańsk, the venue of the final but he will watch on from the stand as his team aim to pick up their first silverware under Emery who was appointed in the summer.

Nigeria international Paul Onuachu has been voted the player of the year in Belgium after scoring 33 goals in the recently concluded season.

The 26 year old Nigerian beat the duo of Nao Long of champions Club Brugge and Raphael Holzhauser of Beerschot to the award which was voted for by players, coaches and club directors of all the top flight team in Belgium.

Onuachu is still the favorite to cart home the Ebony Shoe award which is reserved for the best player of African origin in the league. An award he is expected to add to his golden boot after emerging as top scorer.

Widely expected to depart the team before the close of the summer transfer window owing to interest from teams playing in top European league. He has pegged his salary demand to €4 million.

The coach of the senior national teams of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has officially released the name of the eight players dropped dropped from his initial squad of 31 players called up for the friendly game against Cameroon next month.

Ahead of the game in Austria, the coach via a press release by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed that only 23 players will make the trip to Austria for the two legged friendly game against Cameroon.

Few hours ago he made the list officially and went a step further by including the duo of Frank Onyeka of FC Midtjylland and Valentine Ozornwafor of Galatasary. Both players were not in the initially 31 man provisional list released by the coach.

Dropped Players:

Kevin Akpoguma
Ikechukwu Ezenwa
Samuel Chukwueze
Semi Ajayi
Kenneth Omeruo
Zaidu Sanusi
Joe Aribo
Sadiq Umar

Full List:

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has dropped eight players from his provisional list of 31 players called up for the international friendly game against Cameroon in Austria.

Ahead of the June 4th clash, the coach in the unveiling of the squad by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed that eight players will be dropped from the squad before the game.

After the conclusion of the major European Leagues yesterday, the coach has picked the players who won’t be available for the game but three more players still need to be dropped from the team.

Already Sadiq Umar, Kenneth Omeruo and Moses Simon won’t be available as they will be involved in promotion playoffs for their team with the Spanish based duo pushing for promotion. Simon will be involved in relegation playoff with Nantes.

As for the local players two in Anayo Iwuala and goalkeeper John Noble both of Enyimba were in Abuja to process their visa to Austria earlier today. Noble’s visit to the Austria embassy could mean that Ikechukwu Ezenwa won’t be in the party.

Other players expected to miss out in the list include Henry Onyekuru who didn’t have the best of time at Turkish side Galatasary and Paul Onuachu who will likely be getting married around that time.

One of the duo of Samuel Chukwueze and Peter Olayinka is expected to miss out with doubts surrounding the availability of the recuperating Chukwueze which we gathered was why Olayinka was called up in the first place.