NEWS
A selection of FirstTouch's best football writing, brought to you by emerging journalists, collaborators, and fans.
FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: CDM - Wilfred Ndidi [Leicester City]
The 21-year old midfield enforcer, Wilfred Ndidi, is as good as anyone you can get in his position and will certainly attract interest from bigger clubs with good performances for Nigeria at the World Cup 2018 in Russia this summer.
FT Top 10 World Cup Snubs: #5 - Shkodran Mustafi
Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal FC will not represent Germany this summer at the World Cup 2018 in Russia.
FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: CDM - Franck Kessie [AC Milan]
Franck Kessie of AC Milan in action during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Torino FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 26, 2017 in Milan, Italy.
FT Top 10 World Cup Snubs: #6 - Javier Pastore
Javier Pastore of Paris Saint-Germain will not be representing Argentina this summer at the World Cup 2018 in Russia.
FT Top 5 Young Players With African Roots: Ryan Sessegnon [Fulham]
Ryan Sessegnon has Benin roots and currently plays for Fulham FC. He has appeared for England youth teams including their 2017 U-19 Euro title triumph. At just 18, he is the most talked about and sought after football name in England and some parts of Europe.
FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: LB – Ramadan Sobhi [Stoke City]
Ramadan Sobhi of Stoke City FC will represent Egypt this summer at the World Cup 2018 in Russia.
FT Top 10 World Cup Snubs: #7 - Sandro Wagner
Sandro Wagner of FC Bayern Munich will not be representing Germany this summer at the World Cup 2018 in Russia.
FT Top 5 Young Players With African Roots: Munir El Haddadi [Barcelona]
Munir is another Barcelona forward on loan at Deportivo Alaves. His father is from Morocco and has featured for Spain’s youth teams and only once for the first team which harbored him to get a clearance to play for Morocco in next month’s FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: CB - Eric Bailly [Manchester United]
Eric Bailly of Manchester United FC has already established himself as one of the top center-backs in all of Europe. He also represents the Ivory Coast national team.
FT Top 10 World Cup Snubs: #8 - Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema of Real Madrid FC will not be representing France this summer at the World Cup 2018 in Russia.
FT Top 5 Young Players With African Roots: Kylian Mbappe [Paris Saint-Germain]
Mbappe is set to become the second most expensive player in the world, should PSG finalise a deal with Monaco in the summer. His father is from Cameroon and mother hails from Algeria. At 19-years of age, Kylian has enjoyed a shot career full of flair, titles and goals in the French Ligue 1.
FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: CB-Chancel Mbemba [Newcastle]
Chancel Mbemba is a talented center-back for the future and currently plays for Newcastle FC as well as the DR Congo National Team.
FT Top 10 World Cup Snubs: #9 - Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of the greatest players to ever grace the game, will not be representing Sweden at this summer’s World Cup 2018 in Russia.
FT Top 5 Young Players With African Roots: Ousmane Dembele [Barcelona]
The Barcelona forward has a Malian father and Senegalese-Mauritanian mother. He is also another big money signing plying his trade at FC Barcelona and has just won a La Liga title and Copa Del Rey cup with the Catalans. He is expected to feature in next month’s FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: RB-Achraf Hakimi [Real Madrid]
Achraf Hakimi is a young talent at Real Madrid FC and will represent Morocco this summer at the World Cup 2018 in Russia.
FT Top 10 World Cup Snubs: #10 - Jack Wilshire
Jack Wilshire of Arsenal FC will not be representing England at the World Cup 2018 in Russia this summer.
FT 2017/18 African Transcendent XI: GK-Andre Onana [Ajax]
Andre Onana of Ajax during UEFA Europa League match.
World Cup Rush: Munir’s hopes for representing Morocco dashed by FIFA verdict
Barcelona’s Munir will not be playing Morocco at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia after FIFA Cas’ maintained their verdict on prohibiting the player to switch allegiance after he appeared for Spain in a 2014 European Championship qualifier.