Yankuba Minteh, the other Gambian star in the making
Yankuba Minteh, Gambia's rising talent. The winger, who has just turned 19, is on loan from Newcastle at Feyenoord
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In Gambia, Adama Bojang is the name on everyone's lips. The striker, who made his name at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, is seen as the phenomenon of Gambian football at just 20. He is also set to sign for Reims. But the country, which is surrounded by Senegal, can count on another gem to shine on the world stage: Yankuba Minteh. A winger, he was signed this summer by Newcastle before being loaned straight out to Feyenoord in the Netherlands to gain experience. Aged just 19, the left-footer is coming off a successful season with Odense in Denmark. In 21 appearances, he scored 6 goals and provided 7 assists. It is hard to do better at his age.
His pace, dribbling and directness caught the eye of Gambia head coach Tom Saintfiet, who called Yankuba Minteh up to the senior squad in November 2022. He played his first minutes as a Scorpion against Guinea-Bissau. "He is very young and has a lot of qualities. He is very quick but he can use that speed in a dribble. He can create inside and outside, look for a combination or go for goal, and he is unpredictable for defenders," the Belgian told BBC Sport Africa.
Feyenoord, a stepping stone to the Premier League?
Having conquered Denmark, Yankuba Minteh is now set to make a name for himself elsewhere. The Dutch league, renowned for bringing young players through, is an ideal place to showcase his talent. "It is a different physical and mental level, but it is a very, very smart decision by Newcastle and the player to go to Feyenoord. The Dutch league is very good for young attackers," Saintfiet said. He also added: "This move gives him a bit of time to enjoy himself. We don't need to put too much pressure on him from the start. Let him grow."
Gambia therefore has a jewel named Yankuba Minteh. And this 2023-2024 season could give a clearer idea of his huge talent in the Netherlands, before perhaps stepping up another level in the Premier League.