1 Oumar DIAKITE
IVORY COAST
After years of searching for a successor to national team record scorer Didier Drogba, the Ivorians might finally have found their man.
The teenager from ASEC Abidjan moved to Red Bull Salzburg in 2022 and spent last season at their satellite club FC Liefering in the Austrian second division, where he consistently rattled in the goals – enough to convince Reims to sign him for a reported €2.5 million at the start of the season and for the Ivory Coast to hand him a first cap – against Lesotho in September – while still only 19.
Diakite’s lightning speed is his primary weapon but he is also technically astute. He took only four games before he found the net in Ligue 1 and looks to be a shrewd purchase.
2 Ben NJONGOUE ELLIOTT
CAMEROON
After making his senior Cameroon debut as a substitute in a 2-2 friendly draw with Mexico in June this year, the Chelsea academy product is finally getting first-team action at Reading. He joined the League One outfit on a three-year deal in the summer, and turned 21 in November. His mother is English but his father is from Cameroon, and Elliott attaches the surname Njongoue when on national team duty for the Indomitable Lions.
This story is from the December 2023 edition of World Soccer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2023 edition of World Soccer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Never Say Never Again
Bayer Leverkusen are determined to shake off their tag of perennial runners-up
The Last Days Of Roma
How Jose Mourinho's time in the Italian capital came to an end
Opponents then friends: Beckenbauer and Cruyff
Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff’s relationship defined an era of football
THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN
RB Leipzig's as successful strategy to build a women's team as their men's is right on schedule
New-look Ulsan ready to defend title
The reigning K-League champions have rebranded since last season and are the team to beat yet again in 2024
Messi set for MLS spotlight
The Argentine and his Inter Miami team-mates will dominate the MLS headlines in a big year for North American football
Champions League knockout rounds begin
The last 16 has already begun, with the quarter-finals soon to follow
Hannes Halldorsson
The former Iceland goalkeeper looks back on his proudest moment in football
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2023-24 KNOCKOUT ROUND PREVIEW
Turn over now for Nick Bidwell's comprehensive team-by-team guide
Ventforet Kofu
Japanese second-tier side advance to Asian Champions League knockout rounds with a second-string team