FirstTouch’s Top 5 African Male Ballers of 2019

Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United at Anfield on August 12, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 11, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)

It's that time of when we round-up the year by celebrating select African soccer players who dominated headlines off and on the pitch.

Below, are five of the best who uniquely repped Africa, all around the world

1. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)

The Senegalese international is a clear favorite to win his first ever CAF African Footballer of the year award. Why not, after finishing 4th behind Messi, Van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2019 Ballon d'Or voting. The 27-year-old was arguably the best player in the world of the year 2019, clinching the golden boot after scoring 22 Premier League goals and helping Liverpool to a UEFA Champions League title. In his own words, he could have traded the UCL title for the 2019 AFCON which the Teranga Lions went as far as the final, narrowly losing 0-1 to eventual champions Algeria. Don't take my word for it, 2019 Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi thinks it should have been Mane and so does Arsene Wenger, Eden Hazard and Danny Blind who has labeled him the "new Cristiano Ronaldo."

2. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)

He didn't have the Africa Cup of Nations he would have dreamed of as the hosts, Egypt, crashed out of the round-of-16 at the hands of South Africa. Salah, however, continued his blistering goal-scoring form for the Reds, scoring 22 EPL goals just like strike partner Mane. The Egyptian king was also on song as a part of the infamous trio with Firmino and Mane that dominated Europe. The 27-year-old also scored one of the goals for Liverpool in a 2-0 victory over Tottenham in the UCL final.

Both Salah and Mane haven't slowed down as they are still firing for Jurgen Klopp's men who remain undefeated in the league and skewing the 2019/20 title race in their favor.

3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Arsenal)

Just like Salah, the Gabonese captain's exploits on home soil proved not very fruitful as the Panthers failed to even make the 32 finalist list of the Egypt AFCON finals. He was, however, a clutch for the struggling Arsenal side that lost the UEFA Europa League final to Chelsea and missed out on the EPL top four by a point. The 30-year-old completed the list of the English top flight best scorers as he also had 22 goals to his name, sharing the golden boot with Liverpool's African striking duo.

He has finished the year with the responsibility of being the Gunners' captain and still loves his goals. Only Jamie Vardy had scored more than Auba in the new Premier League season at the time of writing this piece.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his sides third goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom.

(Dec. 8, 2019 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

4. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)

It probably was his best year yet as far as winning is concerned. After winning a historic domestic treble with Manchester City, the 28-year-old immediately switched to his national colors and superbly led the Desert Foxes to their second-ever AFCON title. Most famously, the Algerian captain scored a sublime stoppage time free-kick goal in their 2-1 semi-final victory over the Super Eagles of Nigeria. In the new season, he has become a Champions League ace for Guardiola's men, always involved in the goals.

5. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)

The 21-year-old Moroccan is the only defender on our list and there's a good reason for that. The Lions of the Atlas were shockingly dumped out of the 2019 AFCON finals by Benin in the round-of-16 after entering the tournament as favorites and winning all their group matches. It could go without notice that in every match he ever played for Morocco, the flying full-back was unplayable. He was in similar form for Dortmund who narrowly missed out on a Bundesliga title, finishing second and has since carried that form into the 2019/20. From a defensive position, Hakimi scored an astonishing 3 goals in the UCL group stages and helped Lucien Favre's men to reach the last-16 at the expense of Inter Milan.

There we go folks, let us know who else you might have wanted to see on the list, or better yet share with us how you would rank them all.

Africans In The UCL: Aurier the winning wing-back as Hakimi & Dortmund fall to Spurs

Serge Aurier of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his sides fourth goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium on March 11, 2018 in Bournemouth, England.

(March 10, 2018 - Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe)

It’s advantage Tottenham after the first leg of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League round of 16 encounter between the North Londoners and the Bundesliga leaders. Two quick goals in three of the last ten minutes ensured Mauricio Pochettino’s men have a comfortable three goal cushion when they travel to Signal Iduna Park on the 6th of March 2019. The story of the match can be summarised by looking at the fate of two African wingbacks, Moroccan Achraf Hakimi and Ivory Coast’s Serge Aurier.

The 20-year-old has been turning heads at table topping Dortmund but this particular match wasn’t one for the books. A relatively dull first-half that saw both sides being slightly conservative in their approach served nothing worthy of a mention. Hakimi’s usual cutting edge crosses into the box emanating from swift runs down the right flank were reduced to blocked shots more often than not. At the restart, Spurs resurfaced from the Wembley tunnel with more purpose and intent, opening the scoring in the 47th minute. Ofcourse it was the “Smiling Assassin,” who fired a volley past Burki from close range but the all delightful assist came from an unlikely source. Belgium’s Jan Vertonghen delivered a man of the match performance playing in an unfamiliar left-wing back role and it all began with that super cross to Jeung Min Son. The 26-year-old Ivorian, Serge Aurier, was probably taking notes when Jan did his thing as he also took a turn in the 83rd minute to swing one onto the path of the running Vertonghen who finished with the venom of a centre-forward. Aurier had been excellent throughout the match, playing the game his opposite number Hakimi would have dreamed of on the night - running up the pitch at the slightest of chances and frustrating the play of Chelsea bound Christian Pulisic.It’s the kind of performance that will perhaps put him back in contention for a starting role in Pochettino’s Premier League eleven after being less preferred, behind Kieran Trippier in recent weeks. In the absence of injured Harry Kane, Fernando Llorente came off the bench to head Christian Eriksen’s corner in the 86th minute which sealed a 3-0 victory for Spurs who go marching on.

The Bundesliga title favorites have all to do heading into the second leg and they couldn’t have asked for a better venue than the electric Signal Iduna, home of the infamous Yellow Wall described as “a spellbinding sight, that may not be quite visible from space, but whose dimensions and noise reach up to the stars,” by the Bundesliga official website.

It’s advantage Spurs but game on for Dortmund and Hakimi, recent champions league history has taught us that it’s never really over until the stern referee blows the final whistle.

“The 26-year-old Ivorian, Serge Aurier, was probably taking notes when Jan did his thing as he also took a turn in the 83rd minute to swing one onto the path of the running Vertonghen who finished with the venom of a centre-forward.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

UEFA Champions League: Five Young Africans To Watch

The time that we have all been waiting for has now arrived. The most enticing soccer tournament at club level, the UEFA Champions League, returns on Tuesday, 18th of September, 2018. The very best clubs in European football will once again face each other in the group stages of the elite European soccer tournament in a bid to win the UEFA Champions League trophy from defending champions Real Madrid who have won it 3 times in a row to date. The Spanish giants are one of the favorites to win the competition but the rest of the teams in the 32 team tournament have made necessary improvements with the aim to compete at the highest level. This feature is not about identifying the team with the best chances of winning the 2017/18 edition. Instead, it is an opportunity to present the five African players that you need to watch out for in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League tournament aside from the popular ones like Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane, Mahrez and crew.

Andre Onana

Andre Onana of Ajax clears the ball under pressure from Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League Final between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena on May 24, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden.

(May 23, 2017 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

FirstTouch brought you a short piece about the young goalkeeper who is currently plying his trade in the Netherlands for Ajax Amsterdam. He made the right noises last season when he made the number 1 spot his at the dutch club. Onana is a 22-year old Cameroonian that still has a lot to learn from the game but is already trusted at a club with so much history of developing world class players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Suarez, Christian Eriksen only to mention but just a few. Onana’s Ajax is seeded in Group E with German giants, Bayern Munich, a fairy strong team in Benfica and AEK Athens. These coming six matches will be like cup finals for the Cameroonian goalkeeper who dreams of playing for a big club after having come through Barcelona’s La Masia academy. Ajax has already kept 5 clean sheets in the 6 matches that the young African has been between the sticks. It will take a lot for him to maintain such stats when playing with stronger opponents in the UEFA Champions League. Onana will surely be out to prove a point that he is ready for his big move and should be a player on your radar as you watch the group stages of the tournament.

“He was limited to second half cameos off the bench at the FIFA World Cup 2018. They say that a wounded dog is the deadliest, and Keita must be just that. He could prove his doubters wrong in this stage of the competition. ”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Achraf Hakimi

Achraf Hakimi of Morocco is challenged by David Silva of Spain during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia.

(June 24, 2018 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

His move to Dortmund was quite a shocker for us especially after being one of the best players for Morocco in the 2018 FIFA World Cup group stages before they were knocked out in Russia. We assumed that he would cement his place at least on the bench at Real Madrid ahead of Nacho who had been used sparingly as a deputy to Carvajal. Nonetheless, Real Madrid went on to buy another player in Odriozola which meant that the Moroccan international was further down the pecking order at the Los Blancos. He moved to Germany with an aim to prove a point that he is ready to play for the biggest club in the world but he has not been handed the opportunity yet as he is still yet to make his first appearance for Dortmund. If given a start, Hakimi will be doing what he does best which is defend with high intensity and overlap whenever he gets the chance. These are assets that big clubs need and he will be eager to show that he can do it on a regular basis. Achraf Hakimi will surely grab the opportunity once it is handed to him.

Victor Wanyama

Victor Wanyama of Tottenham Hotspur poses with the trophy for Carling Premier League Goal of the Month for February 2018 at on March 8, 2018 in Enfield, England.

(March 7, 2018 - Source: Paul Harding/Getty Images Europe)

Yes. Must be surprised to see the Kenyan defensive midfielder on the list of the players to look out for in the UEFA Champions League especially considering the fact that he has not been starting matches for Tottenham in the English Premier League. The 27-year old is a defensive shield that has somehow struggled to cement a first team spot in the Spurs team despite being a better tackler than the preferred Dier. The European tournament comes soon after the international break where Dier was integral to the English team which means that he stands a chance of being fatigued. Victor Wanyama might be on his way out of Tottenham if he fails to grab his opportunity this season and this should serve as the necessary motivation to play his best football when called upon in the UEFA Champions League. Victor Wanyama has a knack for scoring long range goals and Tottenham will need these especially when playing against a very much improved Inter Milan team that has so much quality throughout the pitch. They will certainly not make it easy for Pochettino’s men to play their game which requires the African’s physique to budge through players, create space for his teammates or himself and hopefully score. Wanyama will be playing for his life, his career.

Keita Balde

Balde Diao Keita of SS Lazio during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SS Lazio at Stadio Artemio Franchi on May 13, 2017 in Florence, Italy.

(May 12, 2017 - Source: Marco Rosi/Getty Images Europe)

The Senegalese winger must not be a surprise call on this list after his unexpected move back to Serie A with Inter Milan. The Italian club paid an estimated £4 million for loaning the 23-year old from French Ligue 1 side Monaco. The African player is still yet to score and provide an assist for his teammates this season which should be something that is on the back of his head whenever he plays. He has been handed the opportunity in Serie A already when he deputised for Icardi who was being rested for the UEFA Champions League fixtures. Balde will be looking to play in his preferred right-wing position and show the promise that Monaco saw in him when they sought his services to replace Mbappe. It is undeniable that this could prove to be a lot of pressure after he also lost his place in the first team of Senegal. He was limited to second half cameos off the bench at the FIFA World Cup 2018. They say that a wounded dog is the deadliest, and Keita must be just that. He could prove his doubters wrong in this stage of the competition.

Bertrand Traore

Victor Wanyama of Tottenham Hotspur poses with the trophy for Carling Premier League Goal of the Month for February 2018 at on March 8, 2018 in Enfield, England.

(March 7, 2018 - Source: Paul Harding/Getty Images Europe)

Finally, we have the Burkina Faso striker who currently plays for Lyon who are seeded in UEFA Champions League Group F with Manchester City, Hoffenheim and Shakhtar Donetsk. Traore will face some stiff competition in this stage and Lyon will be looking to the player to rescue them with his goals. The 23-year old left Chelsea for Lyon to save his career after cutting a frustrated figure from the endless loan spells which did not warrant a spot for the young forward in the London club’s team. He has scored two goals already and will be looking to add more to his campaign in the group stages. Probably not against Manchester City because they are in a league above the other teams in the group. Maybe against Shakhtar. Traore did not rule out a move back to Chelsea because he still wishes to play in the English Premier League. The African striker will be hungry for goals and will look to hurt the aforementioned teams when supported by players like Memphis Depay. If Lyon are to have a chance to qualify to the next round, Bertrand Traore will have to carry the team with his finishing.

FT World Cup Recap: Top 5 U23 Players From The World Cup

We all know that football is a collective goal and one man’s loss leads to everyone’s loss. That philosophy, however, should not make us overlook the efforts of the individuals and give the credit where it’s due. Even though the World Cup eventually went to our African brothers in another continent, there are still some U23s that made us proud and here are they below in no particular order.

1. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)

He is just 19 years old, he is a Real Madrid player who is on loan to Borussia Dortmund for two years. That kind of CV is not earned by just anyone, and moreover, he displayed an incredible level of versatility at the World Cup 2018 this summer in Russia. For the FIFA World Cup Group B clash with Iran, he was a right center back in a defense of three. He also performed well as the left back in the following games against Portugal and Spain. This level of versatility is really commendable in a player because it ensures that they are able to grow different skills within the same tournament. He was born in Spain and is the son of Moroccan parents, he roared with the Lions of the Atlas and made them proud.

2.  Peter Etebo (Nigeria)

One thing that most people would most likely remember him for is the “own goal” that he had in the Group D 2018 World Cup match against Croatia. That was not enough to destroy the player’s morale in the tournament. The 22-year old showed that he has the talent to keep moving his career in the right direction. Even though he was known for his abilities as a winger, he strengthened the Nigerian defense line at the tournament which was a sign of flexibility. The player’s speed when charging towards the ball was quite evident in his games. In the Nigerian game against Iceland, he proved that beyond his tenacity in tackling, he is also great at initiating attacks.  He recently signed a 5- year contract with Stoke City where he will take the next step in the development of his career. 

3. Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)

Any ordinary 20-year old’s dribbling skills would not match Sarr’s skills. His tenacity on the field was unquestionable during the 2018 FIFA World Cup as he dribbled his way out of his competitor’s traps. His performance made the just the right amount of noise and caught the attention of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool. All teams have been making inquiries with the hope that this youngster will soon grace their squads. The price at which the player is estimated to be purchased for is around 50 Million Pounds. This young player has been dubbed “one of Senegal’s brightest young attacking prospects”.

4. Francis Uzoho (Nigeria)

In the early stages of his career, he was determined to be a center-forward, but his coach saw beyond what Francis thought was his dream at that point. Today, the 19-year-old stands between the goal posts of the Nigerian team. While the other Nigerian goalkeepers could not be at the tournament, he gave a brilliant performance and only conceded 4 goals throughout the tournament. It was quite commendable that at his age, he was able to take up the task of being a first-choice goalkeeper, which is something that has been dubbed as a task for the mature. Thank you, Francis, for teaching us to always be ready to rise to the occasion when the need arises! If there is a memorable experience that we are taking away from this is that fingertip save from Messi’s free kick during the Group D match between Nigeria and Argentina.
 

5. M’Baye Niang (Senegal)

He may have been at fault with his two yellow cards that cost Senegal qualification into the knockout stage, however, he is the reason why the team was tied with Japan in the Group H standings of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. As controversial as his goal might seem to have been, Niang was behind why Senegal was able to get away from Poland with a 2-1 victory. Poland fans were infuriated by the way the referee made a ruling on this goal, but this was a typical demonstration of a beautiful mistake. He had been out of the pitch for a short injury break and the Polish players did not notice it. He swiftly accepted a misplaced Polish back pass and went past the goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny into an empty net. This was indeed the highlight of his appearance at the World Cup. His performance in this match, specifically, also earned him the Man of the Match title.

FT World Cup 2018: Tunisia's Tournament in Review

Like all African states, the Eagles of the Carthage came into the World Cup oozing with hope and pride for the African continent. Little did they know that they will be slapped with a loss from England, followed by a heavy blow of loss from Belgium. To redeem themselves, the Tunisians exited the tournament with inflicting the same kind of loss on Panama with a 2-1 win. Even though the departure was sooner than hoped for, the lessons learned were timely. Below is an overview of the learning curve.

Tunisia vs England

FirstTouch had predicted that this should be a game not to miss because of the certainty that the Eagles will bring their fight forward. They did live up to the expectation. They were flexible enough to change their strategy to a 5-3-1-1 during their second half of the game which tightened the bolts and made it hard for England to go past their defense line. The pressure on England was too much. Only Harry Kane stood in their way to victory when he scored twice for England and only allowing Tunisia to take one goal away. The 2-1 loss was not enough to discourage the North Africans as they went to devise more strategies to face Belgium in their next game.

Tunisia vs Belgium

This was the hardest and most dramatic match that the team faced throughout the tournament. Firstly, they had a new man (Farouk Ben Mustaph) at the goal post after their initial goalkeeper Mouez Hassen got injured in their first match against England. This level of flexibility is commendable. This did, of course, have negative implications for their game. Secondly, two of their players had to leave the game early due to injuries. It might have been these loopholes that allow Belgium to kick in the ball into the net 5 times. Lukaku scored two goals before the first half. Even after he left the game, the rest of the team carried the job to the very end of the 5-2 victory. This was the lowest point for the Eagles, but not all hope was lost because they still needed to face Panama.

Tunisia vs Panama

Tunisia proved that losing your former battles does not translate to absolute loss. You learn from them and come back stronger, as they gave Panama the same taste of what England gave them: 2-1 loss. In this game, Panama struck first in the 33rd minute with Jose Luis Rodriguez. This was after the Tunisian goalkeeper had not just one grip of the ball, but held it twice in the 18th minute to make sure that they did not lose this one. Tunisia was not held back by that first stab, as Fakhreddine Ben Youssef scored in the 50th minute. Just 16 minutes before the referee blew the whistle, Wahbi Khazri came in to redeem the team and ensured that the team leaves the tournament with some respect. The team is not just leaving empty handed but leaving with some lessons that will inform their next tournaments.

"For Tunisia's narrative, it's one of slight disappointment. We went into the tournament not expecting a miracle after having lost our best player Msakni. We knew our only chance was to get a result against England. We fought hard and were just 90 seconds away from making the country proud. That loss demoralized us and we went into the Belgium game physically and mentally weakened. We couldn't capitalize on our chances, and we were left fighting for our honor against Panama. We were able to salvage what could've been yet another winless World Cup (Tunisia holds the record of most winless games in a row with 11 or 12). The win against Panama was our first in 40 years!" - From Tunisian Fan Perspective, Amine

Lessons Learned

• Being flexible enough to change your strategy in the middle of the game is important.

• The ability to play in different roles is a definite treasure for teams.

• Learning from your mistakes as a team is the whole point of the game.

• The ability to persevere through a match can enable a team to turn its losses to amazing wins.

Evaluation

Not all good plays result in a win. Tunisia played well in the team, especially when it came to the strength of its defensive line. The only issue is that they conceded too many goals, but as their coach Nabil Maaloul says, it was only when they “met with very tough opponents”. The coach went on to say that they came into the group hoping that they could at least be third in the group, and yes, their hopes were fulfilled.

Critical Issue

They need to train more of their goalkeepers to avoid the concession to so many goals. The ability to shoot right at the net would also be necessary for them to be at their best at the Africa Cup of Nations.

FT World Cup 2018: Morocco's Tournament in Review

Lacked a cutting edge, but a lot of positives to pick up from one of the toughest groups

If we are to be realistic, not much was expected of Morocco after being seeded in Group B with European giants Portugal, Spain as well as Iran. Of course, we were behind them as they raised the flag of Africa sky high and hoped that they would have enough to cause an upset in the group and prove that matches are not won on paper. Here’s a recap of their performance in the tournament.

Morocco vs Iran (June 15)

FirstTouch Africa previewed the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia competition ahead of time and we anticipated that they would bring their exciting passing game to Iran and dazzle the fans. They never came short of that expectation. For the longest parts of the match, Morocco was the dominant team. Benatia was rock solid at the back as usual, and Amrabat was a threat on the byline. What was lacking for the Lions of the Atlas (أسود الأطلس‎) was that Didier Drogba type of forward who could bury all the chances home especially the ones they created in the first 20 minutes. They played like their lives depended on it, and it was no surprise that Iran had only 32% possession to show for their lucky victory against the African team. Morocco unfortunately lost by virtually the last kick of the match through an own goal by Aziz Bouhaddouz on the 95th minute. That performance was promising, and expectations started building up towards the match against the European Champions, Portugal.

Portugal vs Morocco (June 20)

Morocco needed a response but they could only do so much in a match against a defensively resolute Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo scored early for Portugal through a fierce header on the 4th minute, and it was enough to confirm Morocco’s early exit from the biggest individual sporting event in the world as they failed to find the back of the net for the second consecutive match. That one goal kept the fans on the edge of their seats throughout the match with Morocco giving all the effort they could in a do-or-die match. The Portuguese full-back, Rafael Guerrero had the longest 90 minutes of his career facing Amrabat and Dirar who bombed upfield whenever they had the opportunity. Again, no one was on the receiving end of the dangerous balls from the flanks and Morocco had no one to blame but themselves for not finishing past Rui Patricio. With two defeats, Morocco was out of the tournament days into the competition.

Spain vs Morocco (June 25)

It was a match of pride really. Irzem and Atlasi were out to prove that they were not a pushover and issue a strong closing statement as they bowed out of the tournament. Morocco learned from their mistakes as forward Khalid Boutaib scored their first goal in the tournament on the 14th minute to stun Spain. The Spaniards responded through Isco a few minutes later, and it was all-square when the teams went in for a break. The VAR evidently determined the fate of the teams in Group B, and it is quite surprising that some incidents went unpunished like Gerard Pique’s double-foot challenge. Nonetheless, Morocco again found the lead for the second time in the match through substitute En Nesyri on the 81st minute. An African team was on the verge of breaking the Spaniard’s 22-game unbeaten run. Fellow substitute Iago Aspas also scored on the other end to make sure that Spain shares the spoils with أسود الأطلس‎ in their last match of the tournament. It was a proud moment when the referee ended the match as Morocco proved to the world that they could play against the top 2 teams in Europe and give them a run for their money.

Lessons Learned

1. Morocco’s style of play causes problems for any team they face.

2. There is room for improvement in terms of finishing.

3. VAR is not always fair.

4. Achraf Hakimi is one for the future.

5. Coach Herve Renard’s tactics were spot on.

Evaluation

Morocco was fairly good in the tournament. They had a lot of players who play in the most competitive leagues in the world, and it was beautiful to watch them in sync as they played a possession football that even Arsene Wenger would be proud of. The players played out of passion and love for the game and nothing else. If Morocco were named in any other group, they probably would have made it to the next round because Group B had brutal fixtures.

Critical Issue

They need to find sharp-shooters who are ruthless in front of goal and take the 2019 African Cup of Nations by storm.

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: LW - Percy Tau [Mamelodi Sundowns]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

LW - Percy Tau

The only player to make it on our list of the next transcendent players while playing in the continent of Africa is Percy Tau. The 23-year old has been the star of the show in the South African Premier Soccer League in recent years. The South African player has been likened to Premier League stars such as Sadio Mane with former football legends like El Hadji Diouf claiming that he is better than the Senegalese forward who plays for Liverpool. If you want to know more about this player, you can read an article we shared about his heroic performances for Mamelodi Sundowns who recently played against Barcelona on Wednesday, 15 May 2018.

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: CF - Emmanuel Boateng [Levante]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

CF - Emmanuel Boateng

21-year old Ghanaian striker made the headlines a few weeks ago after inspiring Levante into defeating Barcelona to end their undefeated run. The player scored a hat-trick in the match and many fans have been curious to know what he is about. The young African player joined Levante in the summer of 2017 from Portuguese side Moreirense and has a mixed start to life in Spain. He only started 11 matches for Levante and has scored 7 goals. Three of them coming on that historic night against Barcelona. He made a claim to the rest of the world that he is capable of performing against the very best just like Samuel Eto’o did after he was released by Real Madrid. He went on to make the move to Barcelona and became a legend for the club. Are we witnessing another story of an African player who proves his worth at a small Spanish side before moving to the biggest clubs in Europe? What we know for sure he has started to attract the attention that had been reserved for Kelechi Iheanacho who has stagnated ever since 2016.

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: RW - Keita Balde [Monaco]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

RW - Keita Balde

The right-winger was born in Spain and chose to represent Senegal, his father’s country of origin. The 23-year old currently plays for Monaco having joined the club from Lazio in a £27.8m deal after the club lost their star forward Kylian Mbappe to PSG. They trusted that the African player has the right attributes to fill the boots of the most expensive teenager in world football. The player has been somewhat of a success. He scored 8 goals and created 7 in a season where he started 19 matches. If these statistics are not good enough, it shows that we already compare him to the best performers in Europe who have been consistent in providing assists more like Kevin De Bruyne. The Senegalese forward will be on the opposite side of another dangerous forward in Sadio Mane at the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. Senegal will be a force to recon and this is thanks to how these African players have developed on the European scene.

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: CM - Naby Keita [RB Leipzig]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

CM - Naby Keita

Naby Keita made it in the German Bundesliga team of the Year in 2017 after guiding RB Leipzig to a second-place finish in the league. The following summer, Liverpool agreed on a deal in principle to take the Guinea international in the following year to the Anfield Stadium. The 23-year old has been the engine for one of the Red Bull franchise teams which have progressed in the past two years. The biggest headache that he will give to his new coach, Jurgen Klopp is his versatility. The player can play anywhere in midfield and can still be offensive. This season alone, he has scored 10 goals and provided 7 assists in all competitions according to WhoScored. He has been linked with clubs like Barcelona, Arsenal, and Liverpool before to show the caliber of player he is. He sure is destined to be a top, top player and it would be a mistake if Liverpool decides not to finalize the deal.

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: CDM - Wilfred Ndidi [Leicester City]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

CDM - Wilfred Ndidi

Nigerian midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi has already started to make a name for himself in the most competitive leagues in Europe. The 21-year old moved to Leicester in January 2017 for £15m from Genk. He has since proved his worth against some of the best tacklers in the game such as N’golo Kante and Idrissa Gana Gueye who are all of the African descent. Ndidi is leading the Premier League charts as the best tackler with 138 in his 33 league appearances. The player also proved that he is an all-round midfielder and can offer more in terms of goal creation as he has scored a goal and provided 3 assists for Leicester in the league and FA Cup. It is exciting to hear that the young Nigerian is being linked with clubs like Arsenal who have had many problems in midfield ever since Patrick Vieira left the club. Ndidi has the potential to be a Premier League great if he makes a wise decision which involves him moving to a bigger club that can take his game to the next level like the likes of Michael Essien did at Chelsea under Mourinho. The season has ended and his focus is on the FIFA World Cup where he will be representing his nation who will play their first match against Croatia. 

The 21-year old midfield enforcer is as good as anyone you can get in his position and will be looking to strike a formidable midfield partnership with former Nigerian teammate and Golden Boy Winner John Obi Mikel who used to play for Chelsea before he left for China. We expect Ndidi to be doing the ‘dirty work’ for the team before distributing the ball to the playmaker who will transition the play to attack and hurt teams like Argentina, Croatia and Iceland in Group D. Wilfred has a long career ahead of him and should be looking to prove his worth especially against Messi’s team if he hopes of moving from being considered a good player to a great player. Arsenal has been reported to be sniffing around the possibility of capturing the talented African midfield enforcer and making him their new Vieira who will shut opponents if they try to break them on the counter. Will Ndidi be ready by the time the tournament kicks off in 21 days?

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: CDM - Franck Kessie [AC Milan]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

CDM - Franck Kessie

The Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) international currently plays as the holding midfielder for Italian giants, AC Milan. The 21-year old is on-loan from Atalanta but looks set to be the heir of long-retired Gattuso who is coincidentally coaching the player at AC Milan. Many comparisons have been drawn between the player and another football legend in Yaya Toure who enjoyed his best years of football in Manchester, England. Kessie has been dubbed the long-term replacement of Yaya Toure in the national team and he has not disappointed. Although the club has had a poor season, Kessie appeared in 36 appearances scoring 5 goals in the process as well as providing 5 assists. Kessie shows early promises of being a dominant enforcer in midfield who can drive his team forward at his own will just like Yaya Toure did in England. He looks ready for the next big challenge, clubs like Arsenal should definitely have the player on their radar.

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: LB – Ramadan Sobhi [Stoke City]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

LB – Ramadan Sobhi

Stoke City’s Ramadhan Sobhi currently plays as a winger in Paul Lambert’s team but his versatility allows him to fill in the left-back position in the Next African Transcendent XI. The 21-year old comes from the land of Egypt which has produced a 2018 Ballon D’Or contender in Mo Salah and he is as skilled as the Liverpool player. Sobhi is confident on the ball which has seen him represent his club and country on 29 different occasions scoring 3 goals in a process. Not bad for a 21-year old who is not a starter for the English club. The excitement brought about when such young players take on the best in the league prove that the continent of Africa has so much talent and it is just a matter of time before that talent translates to strong teams that can compete for the FIFA World Cup and other international tournaments.

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: CB - Eric Bailly [Manchester United]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

CB - Eric Bailly

The African continent has failed to produce the best talents in this position which means that the focus will be on the Manchester United defender even though he is an already established player. Bailly joined Manchester United from Villarreal for £30m in 2016. He has proved his consistency for the Red Devils but he has had problems with match fitness. He has suffered some setbacks and injuries which have kept him out of the United team of late but the Ivory Coast international is Mourinho’s first preference in the heart of a defense. Bailly is popular for his confident and aggressive approach to the game not forgetting his passing abilities. He can easily pass as a defensive midfielder because of his power, pace and forward runs that he often makes whenever he is given the freedom to roam around the pitch in search for a goal. Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: CB-Chancel Mbemba [Newcastle]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

CB - Chancel Mbemba

Congolese international Chancel Mbemba currently plies his trade in the English Premier League with Newcastle and plays as a center-back. The 23-year old deputized the injured Jamaal Lascelles and Florian Lejeune whenever they were suspended or out injured. The player has not been an instant hit in the English Premier League has started only 7 matches in the league and coming on as a substitute on two different occasions for the relegation-threatened Newcastle. The young African player must be relieved that his team eventually managed to survive which means that he has another opportunity to show his worth in the league unless the club takes a new direction and appoint a new coach who could make wholesome changes in the squad. Mbemba is just 23 and can be a great player if given the opportunity that the likes of Kolo Toure were given by Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: RB-Achraf Hakimi [Real Madrid]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

RB – Achraf Hakimi

The Spanish-born right back plays for Real Madrid, the biggest club in the history of football. Popularly known as just ‘Achraf’, the player decided to represent the Moroccan national team because of his heritage. the 19-year old is the current second option in the right-back position in Zinedine Zidane’s team. His development as a player pushed Danilo, a £26m signing out of the club. Real Madrid has had some greats in that position before including current club captain Sergio Ramos before he moved into the center-back position. Hakimi is versatile himself and can play in midfield. It is safe to say that the player is in the right place to show if he is capable of competing at the highest level. With a couple of appearances under his belt and under the mentorship of a coach who pays attention to the youth as Zidane, we are guaranteed to be seeing the best of the player in the years to come. For now, we look forward to seeing the player at the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 in Moroccan colors.

FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: GK-Andre Onana [Ajax]

Many African players have light up the European leagues ever since the days of George Weah. These include Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Okocha, etc. who have performed at an extraordinary level in the past decades. Mo Salah of Liverpool and Egypt has been the fan favorite this year for his record-breaking goals and guiding his club to the UEFA Champions League final. But this is not all the continent has to offer. There are other young players who are showing early promises of reaching these levels or even better them. Therefore, FirstTouch reflects on the next transcendent U23 players in each position.

GK – Andre Onana

22-year old Onana is a goalkeeper for Dutch club Ajax who guided his team to a second-placed finish in the league. Andre Onana hails from Nkol Ngok, Cameroon and is showing early promises of becoming a European hit like his predecessors. To those that watched football between the 80s and 90s, they should remember a famous Liverpool goalkeeper who was from Zimbabwe. Bruce Grobbler was popular for his comedic stunts between the sticks. If not him, then you probably know Vincent Enyeama. One of the African legends who played for Nigeria for the longest time. Andre Onana is on his way. Ajax is a team that has produced some of the best talents in Europe and he has a starting spot on that team. It is just a matter of time before the rest of Europe start bidding in for the keeper of the future who is already amassing 39 appearances in a top league.