For years, Africa has provided an influx of star players who have often conquered club football and have gone on to enjoy the riches the beautiful game has to offer. The current era has seen the likes of Mo Salah, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane and Victor Osimhen go on to win some of the most prestigious trophies European football has to offer.
With Europe in mind, that is the typical destination for untried and untested young African hopefuls. It’s the continent where their dreams can come true, they can play against some of the world’s finest talents and of course, the chance to land the biggest accolades is all possible.
Here at SportsLens, we take a closer look at the best young African players to watch out for in 2024. We will feature potential stars from the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1; as well as some of Europe’s other leading divisions.
Best Young African Youngsters
Having already ranked the 10 best African Players in 2023, it’s now time to try and determine the best young African players in 2024. Who will be the next Didier Drogba? Is there a new Michael Essien emerging? Who has the skills to match Jay-Jay Okocha? And who can come close to the likes of Mo Salah, George Weah and Samuel Eto’o?
The first two players that come to mind are already making a big impression in the 2023/24 Premier League season. Tottenham Hotspur’s Pape Matar Sarr and West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus. The former is a 21-year old Senegalese central midfielder and the latter is a 23-year old Ghanaian attacking midfielder. Both have been brilliant for their respective teams this season and a bright future beckons.
Other potential stars to look out for include Lamine Camara of FC Metz, Ilaix Moriba of RB Leipzig, Felix Afena-Gyan of Cremonese, Hannibal Mejbri of Manchester United, Gift Orban of FC Gent, Azzedine Ounahi of Marseille, Amad Diallo of Man Utd and David Datro Fofana (on loan to Union Berlin from Chelsea).
Mohammed Kudus with another goal involvement today.. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/TelBhx7zJk
— ABØCHIE 👑🧘🏾♂️ (@_abochie) December 7, 2023
African Players To Watch In 2024
All of the young African players already mentioned are more than worth keeping an eye out for in 2024. However, the best place to see these potential world beaters in action would be the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, which is due to start in the Ivory Coast on January 13th.
Ahead of the tournament, the best UK betting sites have the latest markets, odds and outrights. Current holders Senegal are the 6/1 favourites, and will be represented by Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr and Lamine Camara. Ghana can be backed at a tempting 14/1, and they will have the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Felix Afena-Gyan strutting their stuff for them.
- Mohammed Kudus (1)
- Pape Matar Sarr (2)
- Hannibal Mejbri (3)
- Ilaix Moriba (4)
- Felix Afena-Gyan (5)
- Lamine Camara (6)
- Amad Diallo (7)
- Gift Orban (8)
- Azzedine Ounahi (9)
- David Datro Fofana (10)
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