In recent years, Football has witnessed a changing of the guard. From the ending of the Lionel Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo era to the rise of Victor Osimhen, younger players have either stepped into the vacuum left by the exit of older, more established stars or simply seized their opportunity.
As Ivory Coast prepares to host AFCON 2023, the likes of Mo Salah are still going strong and are unlikely to abdicate their throne just yet. However, as Victor Osimhen’s recent CAF award win has shown, the future is now, and the opportunity is there for any young player willing to step up and take it.
So, beyond the Nigerian striker, who are the youngsters who’ve got next? Stay with us as we analyse seven exceptional players under the age of 21 who will have a chance to wow the world at AFCON 2023. And to sweeten the pot, we’ll show the high odds leading Nigerian bookmaker, BetKing is offering bettors at AFCON 2023.
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso)
21-year-old Dango Outtara is already one of the best wingers in African football based on his explosive displays for Bournemouth and Burkina Faso.
Bournemouth splashed a club-record €22.5 million fee to sign Dango from Lorient just a year ago and he repaid their faith by helping the Cherries escape relegation last campaign. While Dango appears to have fallen out of favour under new manager Andoni Iraola this season, he remains a key player for Burkina Faso and will be key for Les Etalons.
Key stat: Ouattara has racked up seven goals and two assists in 18 games for his country. The 21-year-old will be front and centre for Burkina Faso at the 2023 African Cup of Nations where they will compete for a spot in the knockout phase against Angola, Algeria, and Mauritania in Group D.
Bet on Burkina Faso to qualify from Group D @1.30
Yankuba Minteh (Gambia)
Gambian winger Yakuba Minteh was given the nickname “Messi” which, while probably a bar too high, is high praise indeed, borne out of his sterling performances for club and country.
Minteh’s performances for Danish side, Odense BK were so impressive that he was snapped up last summer by Premier League giants, Newcastle for €8 million. The 19-year-old was immediately loaned out to Feyenoord and hit the ground running in the Netherlands with four goals and two assists in 18 games across all competitions for the Dutch giants this season.
Key stat: #1 is the number – Minteh only recently made his national team debut in an AFCON qualifier in October 2023, coming off the bench at halftime and scoring for Gambia in a 2-2 draw against the DR Congo. That remains the youngster’s only national team appearance so far, but he is bound to add more at the upcoming AFCON where Gambia will face an uphill task to qualify from a difficult Group C where they’ll face Cameroon, Senegal, and Guinea.
Kamaldeen Sulemana (Ghana)
Life at Southampton has not exactly gone according to plan for Ghanaian winger Kamaldeen Sulemana. First, the club got relegated from the Premier League, months after his €25 million move from Stade Rennes. Then, the 21-year-old has also failed to light up the English Championship: contributing a paltry three assists in nine starts.
The bright side for the young attacker? He’s an integral figure for the Black Stars, where he has claimed 18 caps since his debut as an 18-year-old three years ago.
Key stat: Despite his youth, this will be Kamaldeen’s second AFCON. He also boasts experience at the highest level, with 57 competitive minutes accrued across two games at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This particular mix of youth and experience at the highest level will be interesting to see.
If you think that, not only will Ghana qualify from a group containing Egypt, Cape Verde and Mozambique, but they’ll also reach the AFCON final, you can find the best odds AND bonuses for that with BetKing.
Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Ghana)
Issahaku Fatawu is the second Ghanaian starlet on this list for a reason – he’s been an absolute revelation for Leicester City this season, justifying their decision to loan him from Sporting Lisbon. So far, he has 2 goals and 7 assists in 22 appearances for City and will be crucial to their hopes of promotion back to the English Premier League.
Issahaku made his debut for Ghana as a 17-year-old, scoring once in his 15 games for the Black Stars.
If he can add to that tally in the opening games of AFCON 2023, it would be a great help in their quest to qualify from Group B
Bet on Ghana to win Group B @ 2.40
Ousmane Diomande (Ivory Coast)
20-year-old Sporting Lisbon central defender, Ousmane Diomande is currently linked to some of the best clubs in Europe due to the quality of his performances this season.
Since moving to the Portuguese Liga from FC Midtjylland in January 2023, the young Ivorian has excelled in defence for Sporting. His record of 15 starts from 15 games played this season shows his importance for Sporting. He also contributes going forward, with one goal and one assist in his 15 games this season.
He’s still a newbie for his country; he has amassed just three caps for the Elephants. If his club form is anything to go by, he’ll be a crucial part of the Ivorian squad, either as a starter, or as a high-quality replacement from the bench.
Key stat: In his 45 minutes for Ivory Coast in their friendly against Sierra Leone, he scored once and played excellently, with the hosts only conceding once he went off.
Group B opponents: Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau all have decent attacks. If the youngster can play a blinder, the hosts will be on their way to qualifying at the top of Group A and will aim to reach the final of AFCON 2023.
Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast)
Arguably the player with the highest profile on this list, Simon Adingra is in the perfect situation at Brighton.
The first indication that the East Essex side had a good player on their hands was in the 2022/2023 season when the Ivorian winger excelled at Belgian side, Union St. Gilloise, scoring 14 goals in 51 appearances.
Upon his return to Brighton, he hit the ground running, scoring the first of four goals after coming on for Solly March against Luton Town. In his first competitive start for Brighton, he laid on an assist for Danny Welbeck as the Seagulls beat Manchester United 3-1 at Old Trafford.
Adingra is defensively diligent (with 55% tackle win rate) with only two yellow cards received and beats his marker 41.7% of the time. A pass accuracy of 81.1% and a 20% shot conversion rate makes him a threatening option on Cote d’Ivoire’s flank.
Bet on Adingra to score at any time against Guinea Bissau on Saturday @ 3.10
Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)
Ange Postecoglou’s arrival at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been a breath of fresh air for Tottenham fans. Since the Australian’s arrival, the North London side has witnessed a dramatic change in fortunes.
Compared to last season, not only are they better-placed, but they’re also playing better. And that’s largely down to Postecoglou’s tactics, as well as the players he has chosen to put his faith in. Senegal’s Pape Matar Sarr is one such player.
Out on loan at Metz last season, the young midfielder played in 31 games for the then-League 2 side. This season, he has grabbed his opportunity with both hands, accumulating 33 appearances (and counting) for Tottenham and scoring some vital goals along the way.
A talented all-round midfielder, the 21-year-old does everything required from a midfielder at a high level. As a result, the likes of Sadio Mane can rest easier, safe in the knowledge that the ball will be won, and high-quality chances will be fashioned by the likes of Pape Sarr.
Bet on Senegal to beat Gambia at odds of @1.37 with BetKing.
Keep in mind that, in addition to the exciting games being played, you can also enjoy expert betting tips & previews on the BetKing blog, as well as high odds, bonuses, and offers on their website and mobile app.
Sign up with BetKing to maximize your AFCON 2023 experience!
