Emmanuel Amunike caused a stir by including 15-year-old Kelvin John in Tanzania’s preliminary squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Nicknamed “Mbappé” for his pace and skill, the young striker is already attracting attention as one of the country’s brightest prospects.
John, who featured in the AFCON qualifiers last month, was the team’s top scorer during the qualifying campaign. He also found the net during the final tournament, although his efforts were not enough to help Tanzania progress beyond the group stage.
Despite his youth, John has shown maturity and composure on the field, earning him a place among Tanzania’s senior squad. His inclusion reflects Amunike’s belief in nurturing young talent and giving promising players exposure on the continental stage.
Tanzania has been drawn into Group C for the 2019 AFCON, alongside heavyweights Senegal, Algeria, and Kenya. With such a challenging lineup, John will face a steep learning curve, but the experience could prove invaluable for his development and the future of Tanzanian football.
