World Cup 2026: Youngest African players to start a match – two Nigerians make top 5

The 2026 World Cup is nearing the round of 32, and most of the teams have provided fans with a lot of excitement, Afrik-Foot reports.

​Most of the top nations have lived up to expectations. France, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, the USA, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain have all dominated their groups.

​The Super Eagles are not in the competition, but other African countries have been doing well.

Cape Verde has been the number one surprise package of the tournament; despite being debutants ranked 67th in the world, they qualified from a group that included Uruguay, Spain, and Saudi Arabia.

​Senegal is also in the mix to make the next round. They finished third in their group, but they are on course to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.

Senegal needed a big victory. That's exactly what they got.

Habib Diarra, Ismaila Sarr, Pape Gueye's delightful double and Iliman Ndiaye's fine effort earned them a 5-0 win against Iraq, who leave the 2026 World Cup with zero points and a goal difference of -11.

Senegal's place… pic.twitter.com/komhkGTILR

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) June 26, 2026

​The Teranga Lions of Africa thrashed 10-man Iraq 5-0 on Friday night to bolster their chances of reaching the next round.

​In the course of their win yesterday, PSG youngster Ibrahim Mbaye made his starting debut. Although he had featured in Senegal’s last two games, it was his first start of the competition, and it made history.

​Who Are The Five Youngest African Players To Start A World Cup Game?

​5. Ibrahim Mbaye

Ibrahim Mbaye became the fifth-youngest African player to start a World Cup game on Friday. According to Opta, that debut came at 18 years and 153 days.

18 – Youngest African players to start a FIFA World Cup match:

🇳🇬 Femi Opabunmi (17 years, 101 days)
🇨🇲 Salomon Olembé (17 years, 191 days)
🇳🇬 Bartholomew Ogbeche (17 years, 244 days)
🇨🇲 Rigobert Song (17 years, 354 days)
🇸🇳 Ibrahim Mbaye (18 years, 153 days)

Stars. pic.twitter.com/VxuSs8VS46

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 26, 2026

​4. Rigobert Song

Cameroon legend Song is one of the biggest names in African football. He made his debut at the 1994 Mundial in the USA.

He started for the Indomitable Lions in a game against Sweden at the age of 17 years and 354 days.

​3. Bartholomew Ogbeche

Ogbeche was one of the new players in the Super Eagles’ 2002 FIFA World Cup squad in South Korea and Japan.

He played the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Argentina. At the time, he was just 17 years and 244 days old.

​2. Salomon Olembé

Olembé is the second Cameroonian on the list. He made his debut for the Indomitable Lions on June 11, 1998, against Austria.

He was the youngest player in that squad, at just 17 years and 185 days old.

​1. Femi Opabunmi

Nigeria’s Femi Opabunmi is number one on the list. He made his starting debut at the World Cup on June 12, 2002.

He played against England at just 17 years and 101 days old. To this day, he remains one of the youngest players ever to start a World Cup game.