Karim Konaté, Lamine Camara, Abdessamad Ezzalouili, Logan Costa, Dango Ouattara, Ernest Nuamah, Rayan Aït-Nouri… They are all under 23 and will discover the thrill of the CAN with their national selection. Review of promising young people, candidates for the title of “Golden boy” of the 2024 Africa Cup which opens on Saturday.
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“For well-born souls, value does not wait for the number of years.” Corneille’s maxim, modernized in 2018 in a powerful way by Mbappé – “You don’t talk to me about age. You only talk to me about football and level” – also applies to football.
On the occasion of CAN 2024, which begins Saturday January 13 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, several selections are bringing young players into their ranks who are just waiting for the opportunity to reveal themselves to the world during this premier competition. of African football.
If Farès Chaibi and Mohammed Kudus have already been cited among the players to watch from the Bundesliga and the Premier League, France 24 reviews seven other serious candidates for the title of best young player of CAN 2024.
Karim Konaté (Ivory Coast, RB Salzburg)
He will have the luxury of playing his first African Cup at home. Unless it’s extra pressure? Either way, Karim Konaté, 19, will be one of the players to watch during the competition
In June 2022, his transfer from ASEC Mimosas to RB Salzburg caused a sensation. Karim Konaté had just had an incredible season with the Ivorian club, attracting the interest of the best clubs on the planet. In the club which notably revealed Sadio Mané and Erling Haaland, he tormented opposing defenses in the Austrian championship.
However, he has not yet found the net with his selection. But things could quickly happen with the support of Elephants supporters.
Lamine Camara (Senegal, FC Metz)
You can be 20 years old and already be a double African champion. This is the feat achieved by Lamine Camara in 2023. In January, he allowed Senegal to win the CHAN in Algeria. Then in March, he wore his team during the CAN U20, winning the title of best player of the tournament in the process. Exploits which logically earned him the title of best young player in African football 2023 at the CAF Awards.
He took advantage of the partnership between Génération foot and FC Metz to reach Europe. After a good first season in Ligue 2, he is now a centerpiece of FC Metz in Ligue 1. It remains to find his place within the Teranga Lions as a starter. Competition is tough among the reigning African champions, but the lion cub could find an opening in Ivory Coast, two months after his first goal with the A.
Abdessamad Ezzalouili (Morocco, Bétis Sevilla)
Born in 2001 in Béni Mallal, Morocco, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, known as Ez Abde, grew up in Spain. At the age of 15, he began playing in 3e Spanish division and quickly got noticed by FC Barcelona. He is transferred there in 2021 for an amount of 2 million euros.
With the road blocked in the Catalan club’s A team, the Moroccan prodigy cut his teeth on loan at Ossasuna, then at Bétis Sevilla, while waiting to break through at Barcelona where he is under contract until 2026.
Spain and Morocco competed for the young winger’s favor, but it was ultimately for his native country that his heart fell. He was also one of 26 players who took part in the World Cup epic, even coming on as a substitute in the semi-final against France. He will now discover the continental scene under the orders of Walid Regragui.
Logan Costa (Cape Verde, Toulouse)
The native of Saint-Denis already has several selections with the “Blue Sharks” and will have a lot to do to help them qualify in a tough group with Mozambique, Ghana and Egypt.
An indisputable starter in Toulouse, Logan Costa started in 16 of the 17 Ligue 1 matches played by the Violets during the first part of the season. He notably won the hearts of supporters last year with his double header in the final which gave the club the advantage from the first moments. It remains to conquer the fans of the “Créoles” during the CAN.
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso, Bournemouth)
Will he succeed his compatriot Issa Kaboré, elected best young player of CAN 2022? The 21-year-old stallion is in any case enjoying the good days of Bournemouth in the Premiere League after two years spent at FC Lorient.
Trained at the Foot Plus Academy before playing at Majestic FC, in his native Burkina Faso, Dango Ouattara is already playing his second African Cup despite his young age. In Cameroon, he notably gave his team victory in the quarter-final before being expelled.
Ernest Nuamah (Ghana, OL)
Present on the field during 14 matches this season in Ligue 1 with Olympique Lyonnais, Ernest Nuamah occupies an important place in the Rhone club’s system. Bought for 25 million euros from the Norwegian club Nordsjaelland by Molenbeek, he was sent to train in Lyon, where the young winger is one of the rare satisfactions of the first part of the season.
Called up regularly since June 2023 with the Black Stars, he is part of the new Ghanaian generation, just like Mohamed Kudus. In seven caps, he has already scored two goals and provided an assist.
Rayan Aït-Nouri (Algeria, Wolverhampton)
Having passed through the youth categories of the France team, the 22-year-old full-back launched his career at Angers before joining Wolverhampton in 2021, where he continues his apprenticeship.
Already an indisputable starter within the Fennecs, Rayan Ait-Nouri is Djamel Belmadi’s preferred option at left back. Adaptable, he is also comfortable in a system with a four or five defense. Last September, he proved right all those who saw him as a rising star during the gala match against the Senegalese African champions. To be reproduced now at the CAN.
