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· We highlight 4 thrilling younger Africans
· A Nigerian needs to emulate Didier Drogba
· A Malian, Senegalese and Zambian characteristic
Malian Seydou Keita of Mali and Nigerian pair John Obi Mikel and Kelechi Iheanacho are shining examples of how – no matter whether or not you win the Golden or Silver Ball – you should utilize the FIFA U-17 or U-20 World Cups as springboards to even higher issues in senior soccer.
With the second spherical of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ underway in Africa, FIFA.com has picked out 4 gamers who’ve taken half in FIFA youth tournaments and are properly on the way in which to imitating their illustrious predecessors.
Patson Daka
27 caps, 7 targets for Zambia
Age: 22
Place: Ahead
Membership: Leicester Metropolis
Daka made a reputation for himself on the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea 2017. After coming to prominence within the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Cup that yr, scoring 4 targets and serving to to fireside his nation to victory, the Kafue-born striker then carried his type over on to the world stage in the identical age class. With two targets and as many assists, he helped Zambia by to the quarter-finals in Korea Republic – a primary for his nation at a FIFA match.
4 years on and the ahead has moved from promising teen to the person on whom a lot expectation rests. He’s by far the stand-out participant in a group nonetheless trying to grace the World Cup for the primary time. Having been voted finest participant within the Austrian Bundesliga in 2020/21 after bagging 27 targets in 28 matches for Purple Bull Salzburg, Daka determined to make the transfer to the Premier League with Leicester Metropolis final summer time within the hope of including to his expertise and enhancing on his already appreciable expertise.
Cheick Doucoure
7 caps for Mali
Age: 21
Place: Midfielder
Membership: Lens
The FIFA World U-17 Cup India 2017 proved to be the approaching of age for England’s golden era, led by the likes of Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho, who steered them to the title. Nonetheless, they have been removed from the one burgeoning skills on show. Mali defensive midfielder Cheick Doucoure was among the many better of the remaining, placing in seven faultless shows and contributing two assists as his nation upset the percentages to succeed in the semi-finals.
He has confirmed to be each bit as essential this season in Lens’ glorious begin to the season, which has seen them hanging on to Paris Saint-Germain’s coat-tails on the high of Ligue 1. Regardless of his younger age, he has established himself as the important thing man in midfield each for membership and nation, turning into one of many first names on nationwide coach Mohamed Magassouba’s team-sheet. He’s at present out of motion as a result of an ankle damage, which might hamper Mali’s progress after they face Kenya of their quest to keep up high spot in Group E.
Victor Osimhen
12 caps, 7 targets for Nigeria
Age: 22
Place: Ahead
Membership: Napoli
Victor Osimhen definitely lit up the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015, ending as high scorer with ten targets – a file that stands to this present day – as Nigeria lifted the trophy. “Didier Drogba is my position mannequin. He represents the kind of participant and individual that I want to turn out to be,” he stated on the time. “I hope I choose up his ball-control expertise and his knack for scoring essential targets. He is an absolute icon, a legend. I might like to have the ability to play like him – or perhaps even higher!”
Six years on, Osimhen continues to be a great distance away from having the profession that the Côte d’Ivoire star loved, however the Tremendous Eagle is definitely proving his value in entrance of aim. He joined Napoli in the beginning of final season and took a few months to settle, however as soon as the New 12 months had been rung in, the targets began to stream and Osimhen ended up scoring 4 in six matches in 2020/21. He and Kelechi Iheanacho have additionally come to type a dynamic duo up entrance for Nigeria.
Pape Matar Sarr
2 caps for Senegal
Age: 19
Place: Midfielder
Membership: Metz
Senegal midfielder Pape Matar Sarr obtained the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 off to a flying begin with three targets, two of them in a single match in opposition to the Netherlands. Sadly for the Younger Lions of Teranga, Pedri’s Spain introduced them crashing again right down to earth within the Spherical of 16.
Sarr is constant to bloom two years on, nonetheless. The versatile midfielder was one of many revelations of the 2020/21 Ligue 1 season, which earned him a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur final summer time, solely to be loaned again to Metz, the membership the place he had made his identify. Sarr is yet one more in a protracted line of children to emerge through the pipeline linking Era Foot – a Senegalese membership recognized for its youth growth – and Metz, following within the footsteps of different Senegal stars comparable to Papiss Cisse, Diafra Sakho, Sadio Mane and Ismaila Sarr.
FIFA.com
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