Emerging African Sports Talents: Rising Stars in Football, Basketball, and Sprinting

Africans have become key and major assets in the sports scene around the world over the years, and that is evident by the reports we’ve seen in recent times on Sport Blot

We’ve discussed the legends and budding stars in the sports scene, especially football, but this piece brings you the young and emerging African talents who are making lasting impressions on the sprint tracks around the world, basketball courts in the United States and European football fields.

Check out a few of these athletes who are influencing the direction of these sports.

Football: The New Generation of African Stars

Carlos Baleba

Carlos Baleba is a 21-year-old midfielder from Douala, Cameroon. He began playing football in his country at the age of 13 and obviously followed in his father's footsteps, who played professional football in South Africa and Cameroon.

The youngster’s talent was soon discovered, prompting his move to France and joining the Ligue 1 side, Lille, in January 2002. 

On August 29th, 2023, Baleba signed a five-year contract with Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. Since joining, he has contributed significantly to the team by surpassing 30 key defensive and attacking stats this season. 

The midfielder is known for his ability to win duels, intercept passes, and break lines with his progressive play. Carlos Baleba won the Guinness Goal of the Month award in April 2025.

Top European teams like Manchester City and Liverpool have also shown interest in the youngster for his incredible abilities. 

Pape Matar Sarr

Pape Matar Sarr, a 22-year-old midfielder currently playing for the English Premier League team, Tottenham Hotspur, was born in Thiaroye, Senegal. He also represents the Senegal national team and was key to their African Cup of Nations win in 2021.

He went on to earn the title of CAF’s Male Young Player of the Year in 2022. The dynamic central midfielder also participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Pape Matar Sarr made his first professional debut in Senegal with Génération Foot before joining Ligue 1 side Metz in a five-year deal.

In August 2021, Sarr signed with Tottenham Hotspur, and even though he was loaned back to Metz, he returned and had an impressive run with the English Premier League side. 

Following his remarkable performances in the team, Sarr extended his contract until 2030 in January 2024. His side emerged victorious against Manchester United in the Europa League Final, winning their first trophy in 17 years.

Sarr, who stands 1.84 meters tall, is renowned for his versatility and can play both defensive midfield and centre roles. High intensity, tactical awareness, and significant defensive contributions define his style of play. He recorded 89 tackles with a 74% success rate, 66 interceptions, and 278 recoveries during the 2024–25 Premier League season.

Hannibal Mejbri

Hannibal Mejbri is a 22-year-old Tunisian professional footballer, born in Ivry-sur-Seine, France. He is an attacking midfielder who has showcased his skills both at the club and international levels.

Mejbri joined the Manchester United team from Monaco in 2019. Mejbri made his first-team debut in 2021 after starting his professional career with Manchester United. He made 13 appearances and scored one goal for the Red Devils before going on loan to Birmingham City and Sevilla to get more experience.

Mejbri committed to Burnley FC permanently in August 2024, agreeing to a four-year deal that would end in June 2028.

Even though the midfielder made appearances for France at the under-16 and under-17 levels, he got a national call-up for the Tunisia national team in May 2021. As of March 24, 2025, he has earned 32 caps for the national team, and the future looks good for the youngster.

Basketball: Rising Stars on the Court

Mohamed Dabone

Burkina Faso native Mohamed Dabone is a rising basketball star who is now causing a stir in European youth leagues. Dabone, a 14-year-old centre for FC Barcelona's U18 squad, stands 6 feet 10 inches (209 cm) tall. He has demonstrated exceptional skill and poise on the court while battling against players several years his senior despite his youth.

Dabone comes from a Burkina Faso family that is very interested in sports. His mother, Fatoumata Dabone, played professional volleyball before going into sports management, and his father, Ibrahim Dabone, played basketball as an amateur.

Dabone joined FC Barcelona's junior academy and made a name for himself right away. With 22 points, 26 rebounds, five steals, and six blocks in the final, he helped Barcelona defeat Real Madrid in the 2024 Endesa Mini Cup, a U-14 competition. He was named MVP for his tournament averages of 18.3 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game.

In the Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT), Dabone also showed off his skills by averaging 11.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per contest. Against U18 ALBA Berlin, he scored 21 points in just 12 minutes.

It is safe to say that Dabone has a promising professional career ahead of him.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Most Decorated African Basketball Countries 2025 (Men’s Team)

Cheikh Ndiaye

Cheikh Ndiaye is a young basketball player from Louga, Senegal. He is a forward for the NCAA Division I Sam Houston Bearkats men's basketball team, standing 6 feet 10 inches and weighing 215 pounds. Ndiaye is starting to establish himself on the NCAA basketball scene as a freshman in the 2024–25 campaign.

Ndiaye started playing basketball in Senegal, where he honed his fundamental abilities. He relocated to the US to pursue his schooling and basketball career after realising his potential.

Ndiaye joined the Bearkats men's basketball team in 2024 after committing to Sam Houston State University. In the NCAA Division I, he has begun to contribute to the team's efforts while wearing jersey number 23. 

Ndiaye has made several appearances as of the 2024–25 season, averaging 1.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per contest with a 34.6% field goal percentage. These numbers show his potential for improvement and greater influence in upcoming seasons, even though they also represent the early phases of his collegiate career.

Sprinting: Speedsters Making Their Mark

Letsile Tebogo

At a very young age of 21, Botswana sprinter Letsile Tebogo is on top of every headline for his outstanding performances. At the age of 17, Tebogo participated in the 2021 World Athletics Relays in Chorzów, Poland, which marked his first international experience. 

He participated in the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, in August, when he placed second in the 200 meters and won the 100 meters. At the age of 18, he set a new national record in the 100 m at the Botswana Athletics Championships with a time of 10.08 seconds.

Two months later, at the Gaborone International Meet, he broke a new world under-20 record with a time of 9.96 seconds, making him the first man from Botswana to break the 10-second barrier in the event.

The sprinter has gone on to win the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, earning the first-ever Olympic gold medal for Botswana in the 200-meter race.

He has won multiple awards for his outstanding performances, including the 2024 World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year award.

Tebogo is anticipated to take part in a number of significant events as the 2025 athletics season goes on, such as the forthcoming Wanda Diamond League meets. Both observers and fans are excited to see if he can break current world records and extend his winning streak.

Additionally, he earned the 100-meter silver medal at the 2023 World Championships, and five days later, he won the 200-meter bronze.

Tebogo participated in the Doha Diamond League men's 200-meter competition on May 16, 2025. With a time of 20.10 seconds, he won the exciting race, only 0.01 seconds ahead of American sprinter Courtney Lindsey.

He has won multiple awards for his outstanding performances, including the 2024 World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year award.

Tebogo is anticipated to take part in a number of significant events as the 2025 athletics season goes on, such as the forthcoming Wanda Diamond League meets. Both observers and fans are excited to see if he can break current world records and extend his winning streak.

Other Notable Sprinters

Kenyan athlete Ferdinand Omanyala is still making waves; at the Atlanta City Games, he recently set a new African 150-meter record with a time of 14.70 seconds. He is a sprinting force because of his reliable performances.

Another sprinter to keep an eye on is Samuel Ogazi of Nigeria. He made a spectacular Olympic debut in Paris 2024 and is currently the 12th fastest guy in the one-lap distance at the age of 18.