Football Manager 2019 Wonderkids: Best African players to sign

The talent coming out of Africa is growing, however, none of the African teams managed to get out of their groups at the World Cup this past summer, but there is a reason for encouragement. They are going through a transition of being more tactically wise, something Senegal showed in particular, defeating Poland and drawing with Japan. 

It’s therefore the perfect time to bring on an African wonderkid on FM19, with the nations from the continent likely to catch up with the European and South American powers in the years to come, especially with an expanded World Cup starting in 2026. 

How to choose the best African wonderkids on Football Manager 2019

Don't be distracted by the star ratings you see on Football Manager, with these only being your assistant manager's opinion on how good a player is in comparison to the rest of your squad. RealSport looks at the best wonderkids from Africa on FM19 for you to sign, with all of these players having a Potential Ability (PA) rating of at least 120. CA (Current Ability) and PA are hidden on the game, but it is the only factor you can trust to make the right signing.

For a full list of all the best African wonderkids, see the table near the end of this page. 

Achraf Hakimi (CA 134 – PA 159)

Age: 19

Positions: D (R), WB (R)

Club: Borussia Dortmund (on loan Real Madrid)

Country: Morocco

Best stats: 17 pace, 17 natural fitness, 17 work rate

Value: £7 million

Wage: £26,000 a week

Part of the Borussia Dortmund team taking the Bundesliga by storm at the minute, Real Madrid may be regretting sending Achraf Hakimi out on loan. The defender performed admirably during an injury crisis at the Bernabeu last season, and this term has shown flexibility by playing more than half of his games for Dortmund at left back. Six assists and a goal in 11 games for the club isn’t a bad start at all.

17 pace, 17 natural fitness and 17 work rate give Hakimi a 134 CA on FM 19, which can grow to a potential of 159. The Moroccan international is on loan for two years, so you will have to wait until July 2020 to get hold of him, when his £7 million value and £26,000 a week wage would have increased.

Musa Barrow (CA 132 – PA 140-170)

Age: 19

Positions: ST

Club: Atalanta

Country: Gambia

Best stats: 19 determination, 15 pace, 15 agility

Value: £7 million

Wage: £8,000 a week

Just 19, Musa Barrow’s experience is growing with 29 appearances now to his name for Atalanta. In that period the Gambian international has scored seven goals and picked up three assists, an impressive return given he has completed 90 minutes on just two occasions. 

Striker Barrow has a 132 current ability score which can improve to a potential between 140 and 170. Stats of 19 determination, 15 pace and 15 agility take the youngster to a £7 million value and £8,000 a week wage. 

Victor Osimhen (CA 115 – PA 135)

Age: 19

Positions: ST

Club: Charleroi (on loan from Wolfsburg)

Country: Nigeria

Best stats: 16 pace, 16 bravery, 15 aggression

Value: £1.3 million

Wage: £2,000 a week

After failing to score in 16 games for Wolfsburg, a loan move to Charleroi has been the perfect tonic for Victor Osimhen. The 19-year-old Nigerian has scored seven goals in his first 12 games for the Belgian club, firing them into the top half of the table.

Osimhen, who has two caps for his country, has 16 pace, 16 bravery and 15 aggression on FM 19. Valued at £1.3 million with £2,000 a week wages, he has a 115 CA and potential of 135, but you must wait until the end of the season to get hold of him. 

Youssef Maleh (CA 93 – PA 133)

Age: 19

Positions: M (C), AM (C)

Club: Ravenna (on loan from Venezia)

Country: Morocco

Best stats: 19 determination, 13 passing, 13 decisions

Value: £170,000

Wage: £325 a week

Another man on loan, with Youssef Maleh currently plugging around in the Italian Serie C for Ravenna. He spent the second half of last season with the club, in which was his first campaign at senior level. With 12 starts to his name already, expect him to come to the fore back in a higher division next year.

Maleh’s 93 CA holds stats of 19 determination, 13 passing and 13 decision making on the game. An impressive 133 potential should persuade you however, with the Moroccan valued at only £170,000 with a £325 a week wage. 

Hassane Bande (CA 119 – PA 130-160)

Age: 19

Positions: AM (RL), ST

Club: Ajax

Country: Burkina Faso

Best stats: 16 acceleration, 15 pace, 14 first touch

Value: £1.9 million

Wage: £13,000 a week

Ajax have a reputation for bringing in youth, and that is no different when it comes to African players. Hassane Bande arrived at the club over the summer, and although he is yet to make his bow for the club, judging by his 11 goals in 25 appearances for Mechelen in Belgium last season, he is a reliable goal scorer. 

Winger or striker Bande has 16 acceleration, 15 pace and 14 first touch on FM 19. The Burkinabe international has a current ability rating of 119, rising to a potential between 130 and 160. Valued at £1.9 million, his wages are currently £13,000 a week. 

Krepin Diatta (CA 118 – PA 130-160)

Age: 19

Positions: AM (RLC)

Club: Club Brugge

Country: Senegal

Best stats: 16 acceleration, 16 pace, 15 technique

Value: £2.3 million

Wage: £8,000 a week

Krepin Diatta has made a couple of cameo appearances in the Champions League this season as he looks to breakthrough and gain regular minutes for Brugge. The winger made his first team bow during the second half of last season, and has gone on to make 16 appearances for the club. Back in 2017 Diatta scored eight goals and picked up a further eight assists for Norwegian side Sarpsborg to seal his switch to Belgium.

Stats of 16 acceleration, 16 pace and 15 technique take Diatta to a 118 CA. This can improve to a potential between 130 and 160, seeing him valued at £2.3 million with a wage of £8,000 a week. 

Francis Uzoho (CA 115 – PA 130-160)

Age: 19

Positions: GK

Club: Elche (on loan from Deportivo La Coruna)

Country: Nigeria

Best stats: 18 natural fitness, 15 passing, 15 positioning

Value: £850,000

Wage: £1,000 a week

With just six professional club appearances to his name, it's a surprise to see Francis Uzoho has 12 Nigeria caps to his name. It suggests that the 19-year-old goalkeeper has heaps of potential, starting all three games for his country at the World Cup last summer. Having been loaned out to Spanish second division club Elche from Deportivo, the youngster has the platform to rack up the minutes.

Uzoho’s 115 CA can improve to a potential between 130 and 160. His 18 natural fitness, 15 passing and 15 positioning value him at £850,000 with a wage of £1,000 a week. 

Moussa Wague (CA 112 – PA 130-160)

Age: 19

Positions: D (R)

Club: Barcelona B

Country: Senegal

Best stats: 15 pace, 15 acceleration, 14 bravery

Value: £1.3 million

Wage: £4,000 a week

Another man who was a regular at the World Cup in the summer, Senegalese right back Moussa Wague has 13 caps for his country. His performances in Russia, scoring in the 2-2 draw with Japan, earned him a switch from Belgian side Eupen to Barcelona. He is yet to make a first team debut, as he adjusts to their style and operates as back up to Sergi Roberto and Nelson Semedo. 

Wague is valued at £1.3 million with £4,000 a week wages due to his 112 CA. This can improve to a potential between 130 and 160, so stats of 15 pace, 15 acceleration and 14 bravery have plenty of room to grow. 

Abdou Diakhate (CA 107 – PA 130-160)

Age: 19

Positions: M (C)

Club: Fiorentina

Country: Senegal

Best stats: 17 natural fitness, 14 off the ball, 14 balance

Value: £475,000

Wage: £4,000 a week

Yet to receive any first team minutes for Fiorentina, time may be up for Abdou Diakhate at the club. He has made over 130 appearances for the youth team, scoring 38 goals from central midfield, but the closest he has come to the senior side is being in their matchday squad for a Europa League back in 2015/2016. 

Diakhate has 17 natural fitness, 14 off the ball and 14 balance in his stats, giving him a 107 CA. His potential between 130 and 160 value him at just £475,000 with a £4,000 a week wage. 

Moussa Djitte (CA 103 – PA 130-160)

Age: 18

Positions: ST

Club: Sion

Country: Senegal

Best stats: 14 finishing, 14 first touch, 14 heading

Value: £575,000

Wage: £2,500 a week

Moussa Djitte has made the breakthrough into Swiss side Sion’s first team this season with 15 appearances so far. Three goals for a club who are in the bottom half of the table and for a player of his age is nothing to be ashamed of, and he is showing signs that he can become the marksman for the club.

The Senegalese Djitte has a 103 CA on FM 19, which can rise to a PA between 130 and 160. His 14 finishing, 14 first touch and 14 heading lift his value to £575,000 with wages of £2,500 a week. 

All the best African wonderkids on Football Manager 2019