SOAR’S NextGen Generation Cup U18 puts African youth talent in the spotlight

The inaugural SOAR’S NextGen Generation Cup U18 will conclude on Wednesday with a final between Mali’s ABM Foot Academy and SOAR Academiei at the Centre sportif de Nongo in Conakry.

The international tournament has attracted significant interest from scouts and is expected to become a regular fixture, as organisers look to continue promoting young players from Guinea and across the sub-region.

Teams from Mali, Sierra Leone and Guinea took part in the competition, which was staged to give emerging footballers greater exposure and help them take the next step in their careers.

Almamy Saidou Sylla, president of SOAR Academie, outlined the reasons behind the creation of the tournament in an exclusive interview with Africafoot.

A platform for emerging players

The U18 event is intended to provide a competitive setting in which young talents can be assessed by recruiters while gaining experience against opposition from outside their own country.

Sylla’s objective is to promote the next generation of players and create opportunities for them to advance their careers. The response to the first edition has been positive, with the tournament drawing numerous scouts to the Centre sportif de Nongo.

Its international format has also brought together academies from three countries, strengthening links between youth football programmes in the region.

Plans for a permanent place in Guinea’s football calendar

SOAR’S NextGen Generation Cup U18 is now set to become part of Guinea’s international youth tournament calendar. The organisers want to establish the competition on a lasting basis and turn it into a regular event in Conakry.

The ambition is for SOAR’S NextGen to become an unmissable tournament for young footballers and scouts, while continuing to showcase the quality of talent produced in Guinea and neighbouring countries.

The final between ABM Foot Academy and SOAR Academiei will bring the first edition to a close on Wednesday. Its organisation has already provided a new showcase for young players from the region and laid the foundations for future editions.