World Soccer - UK (2022-01)

sixofthebest

Kamaldeen

Su

GHANA

arOnana

CAmerooN

A nine-monthdopingban

lookedtohavelittleeffectwhen

theAjaxkeeperreturnedtoaction

inNovembertomake sometelling

saves andproducea man-of-the-

matchperformanceforCameroon

intheirdecisive WorldCupqualifier

against theIvory Coast.

Heplayedtwomatchesand

showed no ringrustdespite his

Dutch clubdecidingthe 25-year-

oldcansitontheirbenchahead

ofananticipatedsaleinJanuary.

Interarehighon thesuitors’list

althoughOnanaisexpectedto

attractwidespreadinterestafter

beingratedamongthe best

keepersinEuropeanclubfootball.

Heisa productoftheSamuel

Eto’o Academy andwasajunior

atBarcelonafromtheageof 14.

ThepotentialtobeAfrica’snext

superstar attackerisevidentalready

inthe 19-year-old,whoisa product

ofthe RighttoDreamAcademyand

FCNordsjaelland beforejoining

Renneslastsummer for€ 20 million.

Kamaldeenwasearmarkedfrom

anearlyagefor a quick

transitiontothe topand

histimeinLigue1 would

seema steppingstone to

oneofthebiggerleagues,

whilethe CupofNations

finalsistheproperstage

tohelpincreasehis

profilefurther.

Heisquickandclever,

andformerGhanayouth

teamcoachDidiDramani

reckonshe couldbeas

prolificasKylianMbappe.

Haidara tooka while to findhisfeet
atRBLeipzigafter movingfrom
satelliteclubSalzburgbutisnow
rated as atopBundesligamidfielder.
Hisstartin Germany,after a
€ 19 millionmove,washinderedby
a cruciate ligamentinjurybutlast
seasonhegotregulargametime
andisnowasignificantfixture in
theLeipzigline-up,wherehe took
overtheNo.8shirt previouslyworn

aouHaIdaRa

3 mALI

nanU

GUINeA-BISSAU

Thetransitionatclublevel from

strugglingMaritimotoPorto has

proven toughforthe 27 -year-old,

butatnationalteamlevelNanu

isoneofthe stalwartsofthe

consistentlysurprising“Djurtus”.

Guinea-Bissau’s national team

competeat a thirdsuccessive

NationsCupfinals,whichwill be a

secondfor theright-back, whose

rapidpacesuggestshemightbe

4

(^56)
byAfrican compatriotNabyKeita.
Therehavealsobeenthree
successive ChampionsLeague
campaignstoconfirmhispotential.
The 23 -year-oldwill be
importanttoMali’s hopes of
advancingpast theopeninground
ofthe tournamentinCameroon,
wheretheywillfancytheirchances
after goingunbeateninthe recent
WorldCupqualifyingcampaign.
thefastestplayerat thetournament.
Headdsanincredibleattacking
threatwhengoingforwardand is
probablyathisbeston thefront
footratherthandefending.
Porto beatSportingtohis
signature lastyearand,whilethe
Portuguese-bornNanuplayed
regularlyinthe secondhalf
ofthe last campaign,hehas
beensidelinedthisseason.