1. Overview
Amara Diouf, born on June 7, 2008, is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward. He is currently affiliated with the Génération Foot academy in Senegal and represents the Senegal national team. Diouf gained significant recognition for his exceptional performances in youth tournaments, particularly the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, where he set new goal-scoring records and led his team to victory. His career has been marked by early success, including becoming the youngest player to debut for the Senegalese senior national team.
2. Early Life and Background
Amara Diouf was born on June 7, 2008, in Pikine, a suburb of Dakar, Senegal. He grew up in Senegal and began his football journey at a young age. His talent was recognized early, particularly after his impressive performance in the Danone Nations Cup. Following this, in 2017, he joined the prestigious Génération Foot academy, a renowned football institution in Senegal known for developing top talents.
3. Club Career
Amara Diouf's club career has been primarily shaped by his development at the Génération Foot academy, where he honed his skills and achieved notable success in youth competitions. His performances have also led to discussions about his future professional trajectory.
3.1. Génération Foot Academy
Diouf joined the Génération Foot academy in 2017. The academy, based in Senegal, is known for its rigorous training and development programs, which have produced several prominent Senegalese footballers. During his time at the academy, Diouf quickly distinguished himself as a promising talent.
3.2. Tournament Success and Future Prospects
In 2023, Diouf was a standout player in the Mohammed VI under-19s tournament held in Morocco. His team, Génération Foot, emerged victorious in the competition, notably eliminating strong contenders like Real Madrid on their path to the title. This success further highlighted his potential on the international youth stage. It has been widely reported that Diouf is expected to join FC Metz in France once he reaches the appropriate age for a professional transfer, following a similar path taken by his compatriot, the renowned Senegalese footballer Sadio Mané.
4. International Career
Amara Diouf has had a remarkable international career at both youth and senior levels for Senegal, achieving significant milestones and breaking records at a young age.
4.1. Youth Career
Diouf's youth international career began in 2022 when he joined the Senegal U-17 team for the qualification matches of the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. He has made 10 appearances for the U-17 team, scoring 8 goals. During these qualifiers, he demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess by netting two goals against Cape Verde and one against Mali.
4.1.1. U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2023
Diouf was a key player for Senegal in the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. In the group stage, he scored a brace against Algeria and a goal against Somalia, contributing significantly to Senegal's qualification for the knockout stage. His exceptional performances led to him being named the best player of the group stage and included in the group stage's Best XI. In the quarter-finals, Diouf scored another two goals against South Africa, securing his team's qualification for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup. This performance also earned him his third Man of the Match accolade of the tournament.
4.1.2. U-17 World Cup Qualification and Records
With his fifth goal in the competition, Diouf surpassed Victor Osimhen's record for the most goals scored in a single edition of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. In the semi-final against Burkina Faso, Diouf missed a penalty while his team was leading 1-0, but he ultimately proved decisive in the subsequent penalty shoot-out, scoring his team's final winning goal. Senegal went on to defeat Morocco in the final, clinching their first-ever U-17 Africa Cup of Nations title. Diouf finished the tournament with five goals, earning him the Golden Boot award.
4.2. Senior Career
In August 2023, at just 15 years old, Diouf received his first call-up to the senior national squad. This call-up was for a African Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda and a friendly match against Algeria. On September 9, 2023, he made his senior international debut in a 1-1 draw against Rwanda. At 15 years and 94 days old, Diouf became the youngest player to ever represent the Senegal national team, marking a significant milestone in his nascent career. His height is 69 in (174 cm).
5. Honours
Amara Diouf has accumulated several team and individual honours throughout his burgeoning career.
5.1. Team Honours
- Senegal U-17
- U-17 Africa Cup of Nations: 2023
5.2. Individual Honours
- U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Golden Boot: 2023
- U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Group Stage Best Player: 2023
- U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Group Stage Best XI: 2023