AS Génération Foot Scout Report – The Top Three Emerging Talents In Senegal

AS Génération Foot is a prominent football academy based in Senegal which has played a crucial role in shaping the careers of numerous talented players who have gone on to make a significant impact in the world of football.

Established in 2000 by former footballer Mady Touré to nurture young footballing talents, Génération Foot has become a breeding ground for emerging Senegalese stars in the sport.

One standout player to emerge from Génération Foot is Sadio Mané, who is widely recognised as one of the best forwards in the world.

Mané, with his exceptional speed, technical skills, and goal-scoring prowess, honed his talents at the academy before embarking on a prosperous professional career.

He went on to play a vital role in Liverpool‘s triumphs, including their UEFA Champions League victory in 2019 and Premier League title in 2020, before moving on to German giants Bayern Munich.

Another notable talent nurtured by the Senegalese academy is Ismaïla Sarr.

The talented winger, known for his blistering pace and precise dribbling, showcased his abilities at the academy before making a name for himself in top European leagues.

Sarr’s journey from Génération Foot to England, where he excelled with Watford, before moving back to France with Marseille.

Both Mané and Sarr benefited from Génération Foot’s link with Ligue 1 club Metz.

The partnership is a pathway to Europe for the academy’s top talents.

A more recent standout player is dynamic central Lamine Camara, who joined the French club in February 2023 and has not looked back.

The 20-year-old excelled in the Génération Foot youth system before moving to France, where he continues to thrive.

In this tactical analysis and scout report, we will use EYEBALL to highlight three players currently playing for Génération Foot that we think you should watch out for.

We will analyse how each player fits into the team’s tactics and what their individual skillset brings.

Alpha Amadou Touré Scouting Report

The first player we are going to look at in this analysis piece is Alpha Amadou Touré.

The 18-year-old is a highly versatile player who can play in central defence, left back, and midfield.

It’s not difficult to see why Génération Foot likes to utilise Touré as a midfielder.

The 18-year-old, who primarily plays in the senior team, has a beautiful ability to drive forward through the central areas.

Here, we can see him receiving the ball and turning with it, looking to push the team forward.

This is something he does frequently, averaging 2.4 take-ons per 90.

Moreover, this allows Touré to become a critical link between the defensive and offensive phases of play.

By seamlessly turning and driving into space, he can quickly transition the team from defence to attack.

This is crucial for catching opponents off guard, exploiting spaces in the opposition’s formation, and creating goal-scoring opportunities.

We can see here that as he drives into the open space, it automatically attracts the opposition’s left back, which leaves space for Génération Foot’s left winger to exploit as Touré plays him in behind the defensive line.

The midfielder’s ability to carry the ball forward puts pressure on the opposing defenders, drawing them out of position and creating numerical advantages in different areas of the pitch.

Furthermore, the 18-year-old is very progressive with his passing,

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Plus, his pass accuracy stands at 84%, which suggests he is reliable and makes good decisions when bringing teammates into play.

Another excellent aspect of Touré’s play is his off-the-ball movement, which is particularly intelligent in the final third.

He can find and exploit open spaces on the pitch very well.

In this instance, he moves from zone 14 across to open a passing lane for his teammate as Génération Foot is looking to work the ball into the box.

Touré then carries the ball forward a few yards and shapes it to play in a cross but cuts back onto his favoured left foot, which allows him to execute a curling shot, which is saved by the keeper.

The 18-year-old averages 1.09 shots per 90, which suggests that if he sees an opportunity, he is willing to take a shot.

However, with 0.44 shots on target per 90, he could work on his accuracy a little.

Plus, with 0.65 shots per 90 from outside the area, Touré can be relatively quick to take on a shot when better options are available.

Returning to analysing his off-the-ball movement, Touré can receive the ball in areas where he has time and space to make informed decisions by making well-timed runs into gaps in the opposition’s formation.

This not only facilitates ball circulation but also allows the team to progress into more advanced positions, putting pressure on the opposing defence.

Furthermore, this is crucial for creating passing lanes and angles, as we can see above.

By intelligently positioning himself, Tourê can provide teammates with viable options for distributing the ball.

This not only aids in maintaining possession but also contributes to the Génération Foot team’s ability to break through defensive lines and build cohesive attacking plays.

Touré also puts in the work from a defensive perspective.

The 18-year-old averages 3.5 tackles per 90 and shows good confidence and commitment when defending.

His proactive defensive role disrupts the opponent’s build-up play and prevents them from advancing into more dangerous areas of the pitch.

In this example, he quickly identifies the danger and moves to regain possession from his opponent.

Touré rarely goes to the ground, preferring to use his physical strength to hassle his opponent off the ball.

His diligence in tackling, pressing opponents, and intercepting passes often becomes a key component in initiating counter-attacks, providing his team with a valuable offensive advantage.

Additionally, Touré knows his defensive responsibilities extend to supporting the team in aerial duels, which he executes rather well, averaging 2.6 per 90.

This is particularly crucial in maintaining control in midfield battles.

Touré’s ability to contribute defensively adds resilience to the team, making it more difficult for opponents to penetrate the defensive lines.

Ibrahima Sory Sow Scouting Report

The next player in this scout report is 15-year-old attacking midfielder Ibrahima Sory Sow.

Despite his young age, Sow has confidently stepped into the senior team and put on some impressive displays.

Quick feet and close control are something Sow possesses in abundance.

He has a beautiful ability to weave in and out of pressure from the opponent whilst never letting the ball get away from him.

Here, we can see how Sow is able to quickly change direction with the ball at his feet to prevent the opposition defender from getting a foot in.

Averaging 3.6 take-ons per 90 shows how Sow puts this ability to good use in games.

The 15-year-old uses his agility to navigate through crowded defensive lines.

In the attacking third of the pitch, defences often compact to deny space and limit passing options.

Sow’s remarkable ability to manoeuvre in confined areas can evade defenders, find pockets of space, and create openings for decisive passes or shots on goal.

As we see in the example above, his quick feet and close ball control facilitate rapid changes in direction and swift dribbling.

In the final third, where space is limited and defenders are in close proximity, this enables Sow to evade challenges and exploit defensive gaps.

When isolated against a defender, these attributes allow him to skillfully take on his opponent, often leaving the player stranded and creating opportunities for assists or shots on goal.

Sow’s capacity to take on defenders in tight spaces adds an unpredictable and dynamic dimension to the team’s attacking play.

The young attacking midfielder is certainly not one who lacks in confidence, as he loves to take shots.

Whenever the opportunity presents itself, Sow looks to find the back of the net, which is prevalent with his average of 2.3 shots per 90.

Of those 2.3 shots per 90, 1.99 per 90 are from outside the area, as shown above, although only 0.43 per 90 are on target.​​

Whilst his shooting from outside the area lacks accuracy, Sow’s willingness to shoot from distance forces defenders to try and close him down quickly, creating space for other attacking players and disrupting the defensive shape.

The constant danger of a long-range shot forces defenders to stay vigilant, creating opportunities for Sow to exploit these openings and find passing lanes to bring in fellow attacking players.

Of course, there are occasions where Sow’s penchant for a long-range shot pays off.

One such situation can be seen above.

Génération Foot hit their opponents on the counter and worked the ball to the wide right area.

The ball then gets played to the edge of the area where Sow is making a well-timed run.

The 15-year-old meets the ball for the first time and scores a low, powerful drive into the bottom corner.

Long-range shots are generally more unpredictable and can, therefore, be difficult to save, especially if struck with power and precision.

If this is going to be an essential aspect of Sow’s game going forward, he could improve on consistently working the goalkeeper from a distance to force errors or generate rebounds.

This will add an extra layer of unpredictability to his team’s offensive arsenal.

In situations where the opposing defence is compact and difficult to penetrate, a well-timed shot from outside the box becomes a valuable alternative.

The ability to score from a distance adds versatility to the team’s attacking options, making it harder for opponents to predict and defend against.

Sow generally likes to be involved in the build-up play and will often drop a little deeper to receive the ball.

This often allows him to utilise his passing range, as demonstrated here.

When he receives the ball, he immediately looks to play a long pass into the path of the fullback running down the right flank.

Sow is a reliable

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Even though he is only 15 years old, his passing range can be instrumental in dictating the tempo of the game.

His ability to accurately deliver short, precise passes and long, sweeping balls enables Génération Foot to maintain possession and control the rhythm of play.

This level of control is crucial for building attacks patiently and waiting for opportune moments to exploit the opposition’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Furthermore, Sow enhances the team’s ability to transition quickly from defence to attack.

His accurate and incisive passing can turn defensive situations into counter-attacking opportunities, catching opponents off guard.

This quick transition is vital in exploiting moments of vulnerability in the opposition’s defensive shape, making him an important attacking outlet.

Serigne Fallou Diouf Scouting Report

The third and final player we will highlight in this scout report is 17-year-old central defender Serigne Fallou Diouf.

Calmness personified is probably the best way to describe Serigne Fallou Diouf’s style of play in defensive situations.

The young defender is rarely fazed by anything and seems to be always one step ahead of his opponent, enabling him to perform his defensive duties with surprising ease for one so young.

Diouf possesses a good amount of pace, which he utilises very well in recovery runs, as we can see above.

He also makes excellent decisions under pressure, one of which can also be seen here.

As he reaches the ball before the opponent, Diouf immediately feels pressure and calmly positions himself to prevent the opposition attacker from reaching the ball.

Diouf’s decision-making means he is well-equipped to assess the unfolding situation with a clear mind.

In high-pressure moments, his ability to maintain composure allows him to analyse the options and make sound decisions.

This calmness helps in choosing the right course of action, whether it’s a well-timed interception, a precise clearance, or calmly playing out from the back.

In this instance, he gets the ball under control and then quickly turns away from his opponent, retaining control of possession.

His agility and composure limit the opponent’s opportunity to hassle him off the ball.

Despite being in a relatively dangerous position on the edge of his own penalty area, Diouf displays complete confidence in his abilities.

A calm central defender is less likely to succumb to hurried decisions, which enables Diouf to read the game, anticipate passes, and intercept the ball with precision.

The ability to stay calm in critical moments allows the defender to disrupt the opponent’s attacking play and regain possession of his team.

Moreover, Diouf plays a significant role in Génération Foot building from the back.

When in possession, he makes thoughtful decisions regarding distribution.

Whether it’s a precise short pass to a nearby teammate or a well-judged long ball to initiate a counter-attack, the composed defender contributes to the team’s ability to transition from defence to attack seamlessly.

In this scenario, Diouf steps out of defence to receive a pass from his teammate.

When put under pressure, he seamlessly evades the two opponents and plays a forward pass into his teammate’s feet.

The central defender averages 0.96 take-ons per 90 minutes, which allows him to evade his opponents as he carries the ball out of defence.

Additionally, he executes 23 forward passes per 90 minutes, which shows that he is optimistic when in possession.

Furthermore, Diouf is effective in breaking the lines of the opposition press.

In situations where the opponent employs high-pressing tactics, his capability to dribble out of defence allows him to navigate through the pressing players.

Therefore, opening up passing lanes and creating opportunities for Génération Foot to advance into the midfield and attacking areas – this skill becomes particularly crucial in tight and congested spaces.

The 17-year-old is a physically imposing defender who does not shy away from a duel.

He excels in aerial battles as his 194 cm frame often allows him to jump higher than his opponent.

Diouf averages 4.9 aerial duels per 90 and wins 3.9 per 90.

As we can see above, he has an excellent jumping reach and can direct his headers to a teammate, preventing the opponents from recovering the second ball.

This is especially useful when defending set pieces and crosses.

Additionally, the young defender averages 2.4 tackles per 90 and makes 5.3 recoveries per 90.

This indicates he is a well-rounded defender at just 17 years old.

Diouf is undoubtedly one to watch for the future.

Conclusion

In this scout report, we have highlighted three players at Génération Foot who we believe are worth watching in the near future.

We have seen how Alpha Amadou Touré excels at progressing the ball up the pitch and using his intelligent movement to facilitate intricate attacking play.

We have also seen how Ibrahima Sory Sow uses his dynamism in possession to retain possession and kick-start attacks.

Additionally, Serigne Fallou Diouf looks to be an outstanding defender with some excellent ball-playing abilities.

Whilst all three of these are still young players, it is clear to see that they have huge potential.

Perhaps Metz is a likely destination for these players, given the link between the two teams.

Touré, Sow and Diouf will most likely have a big impact, no matter which team they play for.