Moussa Niakhaté #19

Profile

Niakhaté is the type of player who has had to fight for every step up in his career. Before becoming a regular at Lyon, he had proven himself in some of Europe’s biggest leagues, notably earning the captain’s armband at Mainz and then featuring in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest. The defender didn’t earn his first Senegal cap until the age of 27, when he switched allegiance from France, but is now indispensable owing to his game intelligence. At the delayed Africa Cup of Nations in 2024, he was the only player to miss a penalty as Senegal were knocked out in the last 16 on penalties. But instead of hiding, Niakhaté faced up to the situation with a dignity that won the respect of a country he has grown to love. “Senegal gave me everything even before I started playing for them. I must give it all back.”

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