The new faces of African football

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2015), Riyad Mahrez (2016), Sadio Mané (2019, 2022), Mohamed Salah (2017, 2018). Between them, those four players won six African Player of the Year awards. Only Victor Osimhen (2023) has managed to break their hold on the prize. The Nigerian striker has also been billed as the standard-bearer of the new generation of African footballers, especially after his superb 2022-2023 season with Napoli, whom he led to the Serie A title as the league's top scorer. But other players are also ready to pick up the torch.

Ademola Lookman - Serhou Guirassy,

2024 marks a turning point in Ademola Lookman's career. The Nigerian first shone at AFCON 2023, driving Nigeria to the final, where the Super Eagles lost to Ivory Coast. At club level, he also showed his class, notably with a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Leverkusen (3-0). The only African among the 30 Ballon d'Or nominees (he finished 14th), Lookman is also living up to every expectation at the start of the 2024-2025 season, with 8 goals and 5 assists in 12 games in all competitions already. At 27, the Nigerian is logically among the best African players and, above all, will be able to carry the baton for several more years.

Like Lookman, Serhou Guirassy was monstrous last season. The Guinean striker lit up Germany with his talent last season, scoring 30 goals in 30 games in all competitions for Stuttgart, including 28 goals in as many Bundesliga appearances. Signed by Dortmund, he is just as brilliant at the start of this campaign, with 8 goals and 3 assists in 12 games. Also in Germany, Omar Marmoush is the name on everyone's lips. The Egyptian has already scored 12 goals and provided 9 assists in 12 games in all competitions. Those staggering numbers are attracting scouts, as Liverpool are reportedly in the frame to make him the successor to... Mo Salah.

Morocco's talent factory

Brahim Diaz, Bilal El Khannous, Eliesse Ben Seghir. These three players are 25, 20 and 19 years old respectively. Alongside Achraf Hakimi, they represent both the present and the future of Moroccan and African football. Diaz, who plays for Real, is a star and above all the technical leader of a new generation eager to conquer the continent. El Khannous has been at Leicester since the summer and has the chance to break through at the highest level. As for Ben Seghir, he is shining brightly at Monaco. These are talents who will be under pressure to deliver, notably at AFCON 2025, hosted in... Morocco.

Senegal still well stocked

When it comes to talent, Senegal have nothing to envy other African nations. Despite the much-discussed decline of Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly, the Lions have plenty to look forward to. Lamine Camara, the best young African player in 2023, is already a virtually indispensable part of Senegal's midfield despite his age (20). Nicolas Jackson, in fine form at Chelsea (6 goals and 3 assists in 10 Premier League games), and Iliman Ndiaye, who is enjoying a revival at Everton, form an impressive attacking arsenal. At the back, meanwhile, the prospect Mikayil Ngor Faye can shore up the defence.

Combined, all these talents allow Africa to dream of a bright future. They are all among the best of their generation and can take over from their illustrious predecessors.

Read also: CAF Awards 2024: what if Hakimi pulled off a Rodri?