The African sides always seem to light up the World Cup, and they took centre stage back in 2010 in South Africa. Sourcing players from Africa is becoming more and more common for European clubs, with some of the world’s most talented players coming from the continent. This is no different on Football Manager 2018, with some superb African players to be bought on the game.Â
What is a wonderkid?
These are the best African youngsters under the age of 23 on Football Manager 2018. They all have a potential ability (PA) of at least 145, meaning they can go on to become some of the best players in the world.Â
Wilfred Ndidi (CA 138 – PA 150-180)
Age: 20
Positions: DM, D (C), M (C)
Club: Leicester
Country: Nigeria
Best attributes: 17 natural fitness, 17 stamina, 16 anticipation
Value: £24 million
Wage: £35,000 a week
Leicester were always going to struggle to replace N’Golo Kante after the little Frenchman joined Chelsea for £32 million, but six months later they signed the young Wilfred Ndidi from Genk. The 20-year-old has become a permanent fixture in the Leicester lineup, and you wouldn’t be surprised if a number of clubs are lurking around for the Nigerian in the transfer window.Â
On Football Manager, defensive midfielder Ndidi has 138 CA which can improve to a superb potential between 150 and 180. 17 natural fitness, 17 stamina and 16 anticipation are his best attributes, for which you will need around £70 million and wages of £35,000 a week.Â
Eric Bailly (CA 158 – PA 170)
Age: 23
Positions: D (C)
Club: Manchester United
Country: Ivory Coast
Best attributes: 18 bravery, 18 anticipation, 17 tackling
Value: £38 million
Wage: £80,000 a week
Despite plenty of defensive options, Manchester United look shaky at the back without Eric Bailly in the side. The 23-year-old Ivory Coast international has struggled with injuries since his £30 million move from Villarreal and has made just 12 appearances so far this season.
The central defender has stats of 18 bravery, 18 anticipation and 17 tackling on the game, leading to a 158 CA score. His potential of 170 will cost you around the £100 million mark with wages of £80,000 a week.
Naby Keita (CA 154 – PA 170)
Age: 22
Positions: M (C), DM, AM (C)
Club: RBL (RB Leipzig)
Country: Guinea
Best attributes: 17 consistency, 17 ambition, 17 aggression
Value: £35 million
Wage: £68,000 a week
Naby Keita has been the star at RB Leipzig since he set foot in the Bundesliga last season, with the Guinea central midfielder scoring 15 goals and grabbing 11 assists for the club. His performances have earned him a move to Liverpool in the coming summer, and with his dynamism, the 22-year-old looks to be a perfect fit for the Premier League.
Keita’s upcoming switch to Liverpool means you cannot move for the player until the summer, so expect to need more than £100 million to sign him. His £68,000 a week wages will likely rise too, so you may need to wait a season or two for his 154 CA and 170 potential. 17 consistency, 17 ambition and 17 aggression are his best stats.
Franck Kessie (CA 148 – PA 168)
Age: 20
Positions: M (C), DM
Club: AC Milan (on loan from Atalanta)
Country: Ivory Coast
Best attributes: 18 balance, 17 determination, 17 stamina
Value: £21 million
Wage: £70,000 a week
Franck Kessie has been one of the most consistent performers for AC Milan this season, and it's no surprise that his loan move from Atalanta is being made permanent. The 20-year-old Ivorian has made 39 appearances in the Milan shirt so far in the campaign, operating as a central or defensive midfielder.
18 balance, 17 determination and 17 stamina give Kessie a 146 current ability rating and 168 potential. You will have to wait until the end of the season to sign the young talent, but expect a fee of £65 million or more needed to sign him, with wages of £70,000 a week.Â
Amadou Diawara (CA 148 – PA 165)
Age: 20
Positions: DM, M (C)
Club: Napoli
Country: Guinea
Best attributes: 17 stamina, 17 ambition, 17 temperament
Value: £21 million
Wage: £24,000 a week
Partnering Naby Keita in the Guinea midfield is Napoli’s Amadou Diawara. Despite being just 20, the defensive or central midfielder has plenty of football behind him, playing a season for Bologna followed by a 18 months at Napoli.Â
The youngster’s stats of 17 stamina, 17 ambition and 17 temperament give him a CA of 148, which can improve to a potential of 165. You are looking at a fee of around £55 million to sign him, with an improvement on his £24,000 a week wages.
Isaac Success (CA 130 – PA 161)
Age: 21
Positions: AM (L), ST, M (L)
Club: Malaga (on loan from Watford)
Country: Nigeria
Best attributes: 16 flair, 16 strength, 15 pace
Value: £13 million
Wage: £30,000 a week
After impressing at Granada, Isaac Success was tipped to be, well, a success at Watford, but injuries have got in the way. The left winger or striker was limited to just one appearance in the first half of the current campaign, meaning he has now gone on loan to Espanyol.
The Nigerian international has skills of 16 flair, 16 strength and 15 pace on the game, giving him a 130 CA. For his potential of 161 you will need over £50 million, with wages of £30,000 a week.
Nabil Bentaleb (CA 144 – PA 160)
Age: 22
Positions: M (C), DM
Club: Gelsenkirchen (Schalke)
Country: Algeria
Best attributes: 17 stamina, 17 aggression, 17 determination
Value: £10 million
Wage: £85,000 a week
Nabil Bentaleb showed plenty of promise at Tottenham, but it looked as if the central or defensive midfielder wasn’t mentally ready to be a consistent performer in the Premier League. The 22-year-old Algerian is now at German side Schalke, making 55 appearances for the club and scoring 11 goals.Â
Bentaleb’s 17 stamina, 17 aggression and 17 determination give him a current ability rating of 144. This can improve to a potential of 160, which will cost around £55 million and wages of £85,000 a week.Â
Amine Harit (CA 142 – PA 159)
Age: 20
Positions: AM (CL), M (LC)
Club: Gelsenkirchen (Schalke)
Country: Morocco
Best attributes: 17 first touch, 17 agility, 16 dribbling
Value: £14 million
Wage: £26,000 a week
Staying with Schalke, Amine Harit is one of the most exciting players in the side. The 20-year-old Moroccan has chipped in with seven assists in his debut season in the Bundesliga and is vindicating his £7 million move from French club Nantes. Harit is likely to head to the World Cup with Russia this summer, which could be the platform to show his abilities to a bigger audience.
Attacking midfielder or left winger Harit has a 142 CA on FM, rising to a 159 potential. 17 first touch, 17 agility and 16 dribbling are his best stats, costing around £45 million with wages of £26,000 a week.Â
Bertrand Traore (CA 139 – PA 159)
Age: 21
Positions: AM (RL), M (RL), ST
Club: Lyon
Country: Burkina Faso
Best attributes: 16 pace, 16 acceleration, 15 dribbling
Value: £9.5 million
Wage: £62,000 a week
Could Bertrand Traore be another player that Chelsea rue letting go? The Burkina Faso man left The Blues after an impressive loan spell at Ajax last season, scoring 13 goals and assisting a further six. Now at French side Lyon, the 21-year-old has scored 11, operating on either flank or as a striker.
16 pace, 16 acceleration and 15 dribbling are Traore’s best attributes, helping him to a 139 CA. His impressive 159 potential will cost you around £30 million along with wages of £62,000 a week.
Alex Iwobi (CA 143 – PA 158)
Age: 21
Positions: AM (LRC)
Club: Arsenal
Country: Nigeria
Best attributes: 15 pace, 15 dribbling, 15 flair
Value: £26 million
Wage: £30,000 a week
With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez all leaving Arsenal this season, Alex Iwobi has to show what he's all about. The 21-year-old Nigerian may have only scored eight times in 88 games for the club, but his 16 assists should encourage the fans to stick with him.
The left or right winger is rated at 143 on FM, with a potential of 158. His stats of 15 pace, 15 dribbling and 15 flair are worth around £55 million with wages starting at £30,000 a week.
More African wonderkids
Player | A | Pos | Club | Country | CA/ PA | V | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seko Fofana | 22 | M (C) DM | Udinese | Ivory Coast | 134/ 157 | £8m | £16k |
Mario Lemina | 23 | M (C) DM | So'ton | Gabon | 142/ 156 | £21m | £65k |
Almamy Toure | 21 | D (RC) | Monaco | Mali | 131/ 156 | £5m | £21k |
M’Baye Niang | 22 | AM (LR) ST | Torino* | Senegal | 140/ 154 | £12m | £48k |
Adam Ounas | 20 | AM (LRC) | Napoli | Algeria | 132/ 153 | £7m | £29k |
Amath N’Diaye | 21 | AM (RL) ST | Getafe | Senegal | 130/ 152 | £3m | £12k |
Baba Rahman | 23 | D (L) WB (L) | Schalke* | Ghana | 138/ 151 | £18m | £86k |
Didier Ndong | 23 | M (CR) | Sun'land | Gabon | 127/ 151 | £9m | £18k |
Bernard Mensah | 22 | AM (C) M (C) | Kasimpasa* | Ghana | 130/ 150 | £4m | £4k |
Daniel Amartey | 22 | D (RC) DM WB (R) M (C) | Leicester | Ghana | 128/ 150 | £11m | £21k |
Godfred Donsah | 21 | M (C) DM | Bologna | Ghana | 128/ 150 | £5m | £19k |
Sofiane Boufal | 23 | AM (LRC) M (RL) | So'ton | Morocco | 137/ 149 | £21m | £65k |
Assane Diousse | 19 | DM M (C) | Saint-Etienne | Senegal | 128/ 149 | £5m | £9k |
Assane Gnoukouri | 20 | M (C) DM | Inter | Ghana | 120/ 149 | £2m | £3k |
Uche Agbo | 21 | DM M (C) | Standard Liege | Nigeria | 125/ 148 | £7m | £13k |
Oghenekaro Etebo | 21 | AM (RLC) M (C) | Las Palmas* | Nigeria | 128/ 147 | £1m | £2k |
Moses Simon | 22 | AM (LRC) | Gent | Nigeria | 123/ 147 | £5m | £11k |
Youssef Ait Bennasser | 21 | M (C) DM | Monaco | Morocco | 121/ 146 | £4m | £6k |
Alfred Gomis | 23 | GK | Spal* | Senegal | 117/ 146 | £1m | £8k |
Chadrac Akolo | 22 | M (RL) AM (RL) | Stuttgart | DR Congo | 134/ 145 | £7m | £17k |
Chancel Mbemba | 22 | D (CRL) | Newcastle | DR Congo | 132/ 145 | £15m | £35k |
Maxwel Cornet | 20 | AM (LR) ST | Lyon | Ivory Coast | 130/ 145 | £6m | £37k |
Who have you signed on FM? Let us know in the comments section below.Â
Looking for wonderkids on FM18?
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Contract Expiry Signings 2019 (Second Season)