Football talents are a lucrative export commodity in Africa. Every year, a large vessel of emerging prospects cross the Mediterranean in pursuit of their dreams. It is the same drive for those born outside the shores.
According to the International Centre for Sports Studies, four African countries - Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire - make up the top 20 nations with most expatriates in 2019. A glut of these lads distinguished themselves last term.
That said, here are five of such extremely gifted African youngsters every top European side should consider adding to their ranks.
1 - Eduardo Camavinga (Angola| France, Rennes)
Camavinga enjoyed a breakout campaign last season in France, smashing several records on his way. Aged 16 years, four months and 27 days, he became Rennes' youngest debutants against Angers. He is the first player born after January 1, 2002, to start a game in Europe's top five leagues. His raking pass to Romain Del Castillo against Paris Saint-Germain makes him the youngest player to record an assist in Ligue 1. No player younger has been named Ligue 1's Player of the Month.
Elegant, tactically intelligent and composed, Camavinga achieved all these slottings in an extremely sensitive position; defensive midfield. He was an excellent fit owing to his ability to read games, dictating the tempo from deep. The teenager is intelligent and assured in possession, happy to receive a pass and support a teammate by providing an easy option.
Camavinga was born in Angola in November 2002 and moved to France at the age of one. His family initially settled in Lille before relocating across northern France to Fougeres. The 17-year-old joined Rennes in 2013 and broke to the main squad six years later. Although the France U21 star has two years on his current deal, Real Madrid has reportedly shown interest.
2 - Mohamed Ihattaren (Algeria | Netherlands, PSV)
PSV endured another frustrating campaign before the coronavirus ultimately spared their blushes. The Peasants seemed set to miss out on successive Eredivisie titles with qualification for Europe also in doubt. Ihattaren, however, was the sole bright spot in the otherwise gloomy season that consumed Mark van Bommel.
Having steadily risen through the ranks since 2010, the 18-year-old reached the first-team paradise last January. He was expected to remain there the following season. Ihattaren didn't disappoint as he further enhanced his burgeoning reputation. Centrally or either flank, the playmaker delivered with nine assists and seven goals in 33 appearances.
Ihattaren, though, is at his best when deployed as a number ten and has openly admitted that he idolised the creativity of Ronaldinho as a child. He pledged his international future to the Netherlands but ould still switch to his native Morroco. His current contract expires in 2022.
3 - Rayan Cherki (Algeria | France, Lyon)
At 16 years, two months and two days, Cherki became the youngest player to feature in Ligue 1 against Dijon last October. He did so breaking Camavinga's previous record which lasted only two months. Although the Lyon starlet didn't get as many games as his Rennes counterpart, he is equally being tipped for stardom.
Born in France to parents of Algerian and Italian descent, Cherki is the latest in a long line of raw product from Rhône region's factory. He is in the esteemed company of Nabil Fekir, Karim Benzema, Corentin Tolisso and Samuel Umtiti. Like his seniors, the teenager is talented, technical gifted and creative. Comfortable on either flank or through the middle, he has lightning-quick feet, dazzling skill, vision, awareness with an eye for goal too.
Cherki shuttled between Lyon's youth and senior teams the last term. For the juniors, he netted five times and laced one in four UEFA Youth League games before football was suspended due to the coronavirus. He racked up three goals and two assists in 12 appearances for Rudi Garcia's side, averaging one goal involvement per 91 minutes. He also created a scoring opportunity every 41 minutes.
4 - Karim Adeyemi (Nigeria | Germany, RB Salzburg)
After being released by Bayern Munich for failing to reach lofty standards in 2012, Adeyemi's young career seemed headed for early retirement. A six-year stint at third-tier SpVgg Unterhaching was expected to seal all necessary documents. Salzburg offered a lifeline in 2018. It was hoped that the Austrian club's knack for nurturing youngsters would polish the 18-year-old. Jackpot.
Adeyemi is reformed in Austria. Loaned out to sister team, FC Liefering to gain experience, he has accustomed himself to the country's style of play. In his first year, as a 16-year-old, he scored six goals and made four assists in 20 games in the second-tier. His breakthrough, however, came the last term, bagging nine strikes and eight assists in 14 games for Liefering.
Born in Munich to a Nigerian father and Romanian mother, Adeyemi qualifies to represent the Super Eagles, The Tricolours and Die Mannschaft. Versatile and technically gifted, he is adept anywhere in the final third. He positions himself deep down the central channels or drifts out wide in the attacks and in the build-ups to get more time on the ball. He challenges the opposition and take players on or execute penetrating, line-breaking passes throughout the vertical channels to set his teammates up in prosperous positions.
5 - Kevin Omoruyi (Spain / Nigeria, SD Huesca)
Omoruyi was born in Spain to Nigerian parents. From an early age, he showed impressive technical ability and vision whilst with Huesca youth teams. The attacker displayed maturity beyond his years as he progressed through the ranks.
The 19-year-old was rewarded with his first professional contract in June and now has an opportunity to test his craft with the elites. Although Omoruyi didn't feature for prominently last season as Azulgranas clinched Laliga SmartBank, he is highly tipped to take the top tier by storm.
Omoruyi has a wand of a right foot, perfect for playing long, raking passes, whilst he’s more than adequate with his left. Capable of striking the ball from distance, controlling the pace of the game and receiving the ball in tight spaces, the Nigerian is really a complete midfielder. In the Alto Aragonese Youth of Honor, he struck seven goals in 25 starts.
Which of these guys would you love to see at our club? Have your say in the comments or in the blogging platform!
