African footballers to watch in 2025. African footballers. The 2025 football season promises plenty of excitement, with major events like the Club World Cup, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on the horizon.
While not all of these players hail from Europe’s top clubs, they are talented young internationals poised to make an impact at AFCON or the 2026 World Cup. This list focuses on emerging talents, players hitting their stride, and those staging impressive comebacks.
Anis Hadj Moussa
Feyenoord Rotterdam’s management is thrilled with their €3.5 million investment in 22-year-old French-Algerian winger Anis Hadj Moussa during the last summer transfer window. His market value has already soared to €12 million, proving the decision to sign him was a smart one.
Hadj Moussa has contributed six goals and two assists across all competitions this season. Feyenoord’s interest in him sparked during his loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem in early 2024, where he impressed while still under contract with Patro Eisden of the Belgian Second Division.
Born in Paris and developed at RC Lens, Hadj Moussa’s career path has been anything but traditional. In July 2022, he joined Olympic Charleroi in the Belgian Third Division before rising rapidly through the ranks. By March 2024, he became a full Algerian international, having previously played for the U20 and U23 national teams.
Feyenoord’s gamble on his potential has already started to pay off, making Hadj Moussa one to watch in the coming years.
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Osame Sahraoui
Lille’s left winger, Osame Sahraoui, became a Moroccan international in October, debuting in a 4-0 win over the Central African Republic during AFCON 2025 qualifiers. Just a year earlier, he had played his first and only game for Norway, his birth country, in a friendly against Jordan.
Sahraoui previously represented Morocco at the U17 level before choosing to play for Norway. Born in Oslo to parents from Al Hoceima, Morocco, he began his career at Valerenga, one of Norway’s top clubs, before moving to Heerenveen in the Netherlands. Lille signed him last August for €8m, and his market value has since risen to €12m.
Known for his exceptional dribbling, Sahraoui is the nephew of Mohamed Fellah, a former Valerenga player and two-time Norwegian international in 2013.
Ousmane Diomande
After just a few games with Portuguese Second Division side Mafra, Sporting Lisbon made a bold move in January 2023, investing €12.5m (including bonuses) to sign Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande from FC Midtjylland. The 21-year-old Abidjan native, standing 1.90m tall and trained at Olympic Sport Abobo, has seen his market value quadruple since the transfer.
Now a key figure in Sporting’s defense, Diomande earns €600,000 annually (excluding bonuses) and has become a 2024 AFCON champion. His performances have attracted attention from European giants like Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Sporting has placed an €80m release clause in his contract, which runs until June 2027. While high, the clause remains negotiable, reflecting the growing demand for the talented defender.
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Cherif Ndiaye
At nearly 29 years old (turning 29 on January 23), Senegalese forward Cherif Ndiaye is no longer considered a rising star. However, 2024 has been a breakthrough year for him. He made his international debut in June and competed in the Champions League with Serbia’s top club, Red Star Belgrade, where he has played since 2023.
Before joining Red Star Belgrade, Dakar native Cherif Ndiaye had a diverse career path. Starting at Grand Yoff in Senegal’s Fourth Division, he moved to Waasland-Beveren (Belgium) in 2016. His journey took him to Gorica (Croatia), Göztepe Izmir (Turkey), Shanghai Port (China), and Adana Demirspor (Turkey) before reaching his most prominent club to date.
Under contract until June 2026, Ndiaye has scored 12 goals this season and hopes to play in his first AFCON. A move to a more competitive league could also be on the horizon, marking another step in his remarkable career.
Noah Sadiki
Belgian-born players representing Congo are becoming increasingly common, and Noah Sadiki, born in Brussels on December 17, 2004, is one of the latest to make the switch. Despite his parents’ initial objections, Sadiki joined Congo’s U21 team in September 2023 and made his senior debut later that month in a 1-0 victory over Guinea during the AFCON 2025 qualifiers.
Trained at Anderlecht, one of Brussels’ top clubs, Sadiki now plays for Union Saint-Gilloise, another prominent team in the city. In 2024, he helped them win the National Cup, and his market value is now estimated at €8m.