The inaugural U15 World Cup in Azerbaijan provided a platform for several of Africa’s most promising young players, with five talents in particular making a strong impression on the international stage.

Senegal forward Abdoulaye Diallo led the way, scoring an extraordinary 23 goals in 10 matches for Salam Academie Foot. But he was not the only player to stand out in Baku, with prospects from Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana also producing performances that could attract attention in the years ahead.

Meharzi leads Algeria’s attack

Abdelkarim Meharzi finished the tournament with 14 goals in 10 appearances, establishing himself as one of its leading attractions.

The Olympique Akbou forward, who captained Algeria and wore the number 10 shirt, scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Argentina. He also found the net twice against Suriname before scoring four times against Taiwan.

His scoring run continued in the classification matches, including a hat-trick against Kenya in a 4-3 defeat. Although the Fennecs finished 28th, Meharzi, who is coached by Karim Ziani, enhanced his reputation as a player to watch in the Algerian league.

Morocco ended the competition in 13th place, with Said Noufii among their most effective players. The CF Benguerir forward scored three times in a 5-1 win over Liberia, having previously recorded two goals against Belize in a 6-0 victory and another brace in a 7-0 win over Curacao.

He added two more goals against Cameroon in a 4-1 success during the first knockout round, underlining his consistency in front of goal and providing one of the highlights of Morocco’s campaign.

Ngome and Cote d’Ivoire’s promising midfield

Cameroon’s Randy Ngome also attracted considerable attention. The Best Stars Limbe midfielder captained the Young Lions and ended the tournament with three goals and nine assists.

Ngome scored against Senegal in a 3-0 win and Bahrain in a 2-0 victory, but his greatest influence came through his vision, technical ability and creativity.

He had already been recognised as the best U14 player at the Limbe International Tournament in 2023, before being named best U16 player in 2025.

Cote d’Ivoire’s Berte Cheick Hamed Tidiane, who was developed at FC San Pedro, is another player regarded as part of the country’s emerging generation.

He had represented Cote d’Ivoire at U16 level at the International Dream Cup in Japan in June, before joining the squad for the U15 World Cup. He featured during the Elephants’ explosive start, when they scored 22 goals without conceding in their first three matches against Rwanda, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Vanuatu.

Ghana forward delivers decisive moments

Ghana’s Shamsudeen Sulemana was central to his country’s run to seventh place. The forward scored four goals in a 5-2 victory over Mexico, sending Ghana into the quarter-finals. He also scored against Myanmar and Kazakhstan, as well as twice against the Bahamas.

Sulemana had previously been the leading scorer at the national U15 championship held under FIFA’s talent development programme in 2024. He was named the competition’s best player in 2025 and was given a trial opportunity at Milan AC that year.

At 15, however, physical development and the transition to senior football make long-term predictions difficult. For now, the tournament has given these players valuable international exposure that could help accelerate their progress.