The 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship in Ivory Coast provided a platform for some of West Africa’s most promising young footballers to showcase their talent, with several players now attracting interest from clubs outside their respective countries.
While Burkina Faso emerged as champions after beating Nigeria 3-1 in the final, a number of individual performances throughout the tournament have generated significant transfer interest.
Footy-Africa looks at five players whose displays in Ivory Coast could lead to moves to foreign clubs.
Kelvin Nkrumah (Ghana)
Ghana U-20 captain Kelvin Nkrumah was one of the standout performers at the tournament despite the Black Satellites’ underwhelming campaign.
The Medeama SC winger’s performances earned him a place in the Team of the Tournament, further highlighting his growing reputation.
Footy-Africa understands that Portuguese champions FC Porto have identified Nkrumah as a potential signing.
Medeama SC president Moses Armah has confirmed that negotiations are at an advanced stage, with Porto understood to have seen off strong interest from several Austrian clubs in the race for the promising winger.
Nkrumah is expected to initially join Porto’s under-19 side, where he will continue his development while aiming to break into the club’s senior team in the future.
FC Porto beat Austrian and Belgian interest to land Kelvin Nkrumah
Namory Keita (Ivory Coast)
Ivorian forward Namory Keita also enhanced his reputation on home soil.
The Racing Club d’Abidjan attacker scored three goals during the tournament, including a memorable brace against Nigeria in the semi-final.
Keita comes from a club renowned for its youth development structure. Racing Club d’Abidjan has established a strong reputation for producing young talent and has a historic partnership with French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice.
Footy-Africa understands that Nice are monitoring Keita’s progress, with his performances at the WAFU B tournament further strengthening the interest surrounding the young forward.
Habila Simeon (Nigeria)
One of the youngest players at the tournament, Habila Simeon was handed the Nigeria U-20 captaincy by head coach Abdul Maikaba shortly before the competition.
Despite not turning 18 until September 2026, the attacking midfielder showed maturity beyond his years and played an influential role in Nigeria’s run to the final.
Simeon was particularly impressive in the semi-final against hosts Côte d’Ivoire, scoring a crucial 67th-minute equaliser with a powerful header as Nigeria came from behind to win.
Footy-Africa understands that Simeon is set to join Slovakian club AS Trenčín from Golden Boots Soccer Academy.
Both parties have reached an agreement over the transfer, with the 17-year-old now expected to take the next step in his career in Europe.
His leadership and performances in Ivory Coast have significantly elevated his profile and could provide the platform for a promising career abroad.
AS Trenčín agree deal to sign Nigeria U-20 captain Habila Simeon
Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Nigeria)
Nigeria’s Abdulmuiz Adeleke was another player who left a significant impression at the tournament.
The Supreme FC Academy forward finished as the competition’s top scorer, underlining the quality that has attracted interest from several clubs.
Adeleke’s goalscoring exploits demonstrated why he was already being monitored by clubs before the tournament.
Footy-Africa understands that the Nigerian youngster has attracted interest from Chelsea and Strasbourg, with the attacker having trained with both clubs.
A decision on his next move is expected soon, with his performances in Ivory Coast likely to have strengthened his position as one of the most sought-after young attackers from the tournament.
Mohamed Zongo (Burkina Faso)
Burkina Faso midfielder Mohamed Zongo was arguably the biggest individual winner of the tournament.
Zongo was voted Player of the Tournament after helping Burkina Faso claim the title with a 3-1 victory over Nigeria in the final.
The midfielder finished the competition with two goals and five assists, playing a central role in Burkina Faso’s successful campaign.
His emergence is not entirely unexpected. Zongo has previously represented Burkina Faso at the FIFA U-17 World Cup and has continued to build a reputation as one of the most highly regarded young players in African football.
His performances in Ivory Coast have attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain among those understood to have monitored the youngster.
However, Chelsea currently appear to be in the strongest position to secure his signature, with a potential move to Stamford Bridge possible in the coming months.
A tournament that could change careers
The WAFU B U-20 Championship has once again provided a valuable scouting platform for young players across West Africa.
For Nkrumah, Keita, Simeon, Adeleke and Zongo, impressive performances in Ivory Coast could now translate into opportunities to continue their development in Europe.
With several clubs already monitoring the players and some agreements understood to be close, the coming months could see a number of the tournament’s brightest talents make the move from West African football to the European stage.
