Today we present to you 10 African top and young talents to watchout for in the FIFA 2018 World Cup. Yes.. We have five African countries qualified, they include Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal And Tunisia.
Below you will find top players from each of these countries you should watch out for in the coming tournament which begins soon. The competition starts in June and ends by July.
The football players you will find below are listed because of their recent brilliant performances.
best African soccer players


Striker: Mohamed Salah
Age: 25
(Egypt, Liverpool)

Mohamed Salah has been one of the most exciting forwards in world football in 2017. Last season he was Roma’s best player, scoring 15 league goals and leading them to an impressive second place with 87 points, their highest so far in history even more than 75 they got when they last won the Serie A title in 2001.
He also scored three goals in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) helping Egypt to reach the final where they lost to champions Cameroon. He was the hero for Egypt after he led them to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the first since 1990; Salah scored five goals in the qualifying series.
After moving to Liverpool, Salah has continued with his insane form, scoring 20 goals already including 14 in the Premier League.
He has already won the BBC African Player if the Year award and is overwhelming favourite to win the CAF Player of the Year honour.

Midfielder: Wilfred Ndidi
Age: 21
(Nigeria/Leicester City)

One of Africa’s break-out stars of 2017, Wilfred Ndidi joined Premier League side Leicester City in January and has put in a consistent shift since then.
Ndidi has missed just one league game in 2017 and is also one of the first names on Leicester City starting XI under three coaches.
For the Super Eagles of Nigeria, he was also massive, starting all of their games in their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.


Alex Iwobi (midfielder, forward)
Age: 21
(Nigeria/Arsenal)

Iwobi started as a youth international for England, with whom he won the Victory Shield of 2011. Iwobi went on though to play for Nigeria. He made his senior debut for the Super Eagles on 8 October 2015, replacing Ahmed Musa in the 57th minute of a 2–0 friendly defeat to DR Congo in Visé, Belgium.
He was selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics. He was not a part of the 18-man final squad. In August 2017 Iwobi pulled out of Nigeria’s squad for that month’s World Cup qualifiers due to injury. On 7 October 2017, Iwobi scored for Nigeria in a 1–0 win over Zambia to secure the Super Eagles a spot in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Midfielder/Forward: Youssef Msakni
Tunisia
Age: 27


He played a major role in qualifying for the tournament after scoring against Togo in Monastir. He was also one of the leading players in the group stage after deliving an assist against Algeria in the 50th minute which they won (2-1) and scoring a goal against Zimbabwe in the 22nd minute (4-2), but they were eliminated in the quarter-finals against Burkina Faso after losing (0-2).

Defence: Kalidou Koulibaly
Age: 26
(Senegal/Napoli)

Kalidou Koulibaly is not just one of the best in Africa, but one of the most sought-after defenders in world football. He had a solid 2017 and was massive for Napoli who finished third in the Serie A in the 2016/2017 season.
In the summer,, he was linked to big European clubs like Chelsea but remained with Napoli.
For Senegal he still had an impressive year, helping them to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Defence: Medhi Benatia
Age: 30
(Morocco/Juventus)

After playing fringe roles for Juventus, Medhi Benatia rose to become one of their main defenders in 2017.
For he Morocco led from the back as they got to the quarter-final of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and also qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
After winning the Serie A and Coppa Italia double with Juventus in the 2016/2017 season, he has become an even more important player, featuring in the defence that has kept several clean sheets in the Serie A this season.

Defender: Ahmed Hegazi
Age: 27
(Egypt/West Brom)

We could not choose any full-back for this Pulse List 2017 hence the decision to set-up this list in a 3-4-3 formation.
Ahmed Hegazi takes up the right side of this XI’s central defence after a fantastic 2017. Hegazi won the Egyptian league this year with Al Ahly before joining West Brom in the summer on a loan deal.
At West Brom, the Egyptian defender quickly became a fans’ favourite due to his Man of the Match performances.
Inevitably, links to Liverpool and Leicester City trailed his impressive performances for West Brom, The Baggies have however signed him to a permanent deal sparking celebrations among fans.
With Egypt, he also had a good year, playing in all of their games as they got to the final of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) where they eventually lost to Ghana.
In 2017, he played three 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, helping the Pharaohs to their first World Cup tournament since 1990.


Goalkeeper: Zouheir Laaroubi
Age: 33
(Morocco/Wydad Athletic Club)

2017 was not a great year for African goalkeepers after the era of some of the greatest from the continent, like Vincent Enyeama, Carlos Kameni and Essam El-Hadary.
Amidst the absence of a breakout African goalkeeping star, Zouheir Laaroubi makes a case to be the best of the year.
Laaroubi kept the post for Wydad Athletic Club as they won the Moroccan League and CAF Champions League double.


Winger/Forward: Victor Moses
Age: 27
(Nigeria/Chelsea)

Victor Moses had one of his best years in 2017 helping Chelsea to a Premier League title and the Super Eagles of Nigeria to 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Moses was converted to a right wing-back by Chelsea coach Antonio Conte who won the title thanks to the success of this three-man defence set-up.
From the right, the Nigeria international gave them width and balance; he was also disciplined in defence.
For the Super Eagles, it was a completely new role for Moses who was Nigeria’s star man up front. He ended up in CAF’s best XI of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series.

Forward: Sadio Mane
Age: 25
(Liverpool/Senegal)

Despite a series of injuries, Sadio Mane remains one of the best African players this year. His impressive season helped Liverpool to finish fourth place, beating Arsenal to the last Champions League slot.
He was also Senegal’s leading player as the qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Odion Ighalo
Age: 27
(Nigeria/Changchun Yatai)


After starting his career at Prime and Julius Berger, he moved to Norway’s Lyn in 2007. A year later he was signed by Udinese, spending most of his tenure loaned out, notably at Granada, before signing for Watford in 2014. On 31 January 2017, Ighalo joined Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai for a reported £20 million. On 24 March 2015, after a series of strong performances for Watford, newly appointed Nigeria interim coach Daniel Amokachi selected Ighalo for the first time, and the latter stated, “I feel good because it is my dream to play for my country”. He gained his first cap two days later, starting in a 0–1 friendly home loss to Uganda. Ighalo was one of three overage players named in Nigeria’s squad for the 2016 Olympic tournament in Brazil.

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SOURCE: https://tinamagazine.com/2018/04/2018-top-11-african-best-players-to.html
Lalasticlala

I think the only one on the list i cant wait to see perform is Mo Salah the great.. Like if you share my views

I'll booked a bet on Betway for Nigerian player's to shine at world cup.

Abiodunspectre:
I'll booked a bet on Betway for Nigerian player's to shine at world cup.

Lol.. dont let their qualifiers performance get you.. thats how super eagles normally fumble when the real thing comes

Let's do it guys.
MAKE US PROUD.
Shine Shine Shine.

UP SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA.

B

Mane! African Best

Extra! Lazy blogger according to part of your post Chelsea won the League title and Arsenal Finished 5th (which is the narrative of 2016/17 season)

Where is Blade Keita and Ndidi

team Mo Salah....


For your air cargo tracking, cargo handling, cargo clearing, customs paperwork, cargo packaging and cargo export to USA,Europe and other destinations..

Ighalo keh

Where is Victor Moses??

mo sallah,mane,iwobi these trio will surely shine at the world cup

Nigerians dominate this list.
But it was said Moses has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.
Hope it's false.
I wish Super eagles the very best.

I don't know why I don't regard those Arabs as Africans.

Nigeria all the way. Meanwhile

am very sure this African teams won't do anything special,cursed continent oshi but if na bad leaders world cup our leaders go come back with the cup.SMH

Ironlion1:
Nigerians dominate this list.
But it was said Moses has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.
Hope it's false.
I wish Super eagles the very best.

Moses Simon was ruled out not Victor Moses

Sadio mane all the way, that guy's good

I want to see Mo Sallah.

I'm beginning to think Alex Iwobi is overrated. Not hating though.


Sergio Ramos shouldn't travel to any Arab country, at least for now.

You no add Mikel why

If these are the only things African regard as star players at their world cup team, then I won't watch the world cup

Not Victor moses but moses Simon

Nigerians dominate this list.
But it was said Moses has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.
Hope it's false.
I wish Super eagles the very best. [/quote]

dis team di very weak. Dey are weak

Francis Uzoho, this is his own breakthrough year

Salah is my man.

What is ighalo doing on the list?


Why are Nigerian players many on your list o is it because you are a Nigerian

Jbleenk:
Nigeria all the way. Meanwhile

To slap you dey hungry me

No kelechi ihenacho?

OP said they used 3-4-3 formation with SALAH, MANE, IWOBI, IGHALO, MOSES for pitch and Hagadzi playing right back?

directonpc:
Mane! African Best

Extra! Lazy blogger according to part of your post Chelsea won the League title and Arsenal Finished 5th (which is the narrative of 2016/17 season)

Lazy blogger indeed! He mainly focused on last season

oshe11:
OP said the used 3-4-3 formation with SALAH, MANE, IWOBI, IGHALO, MOSES for pitch and Hagadzi playing right back?

Your oil for head still fresh