Meet Africa’s best young star: Taye Taiwo

By: Sam | March 2nd, 2007

While all you’s guys are all drooling over Didier Drogba, who’s all “Oh I’m so cool I’m the best African footballer”, something much more important happened. Why be the best African footballer when you can be the best young African footballer? It’s a question of unflappable logic if you ask me. So meet and greet the best the youth of Africa has to offer: Olympique de Marseille’s Nigerian left-back Taye Taiwo. Video of the youngster is below.

Born 16 April 1985 in the humoungoid city of Lagos in Nigeria, Taiwo’s early athletic endeavours remain unknown, but in 2003 he joined the well-known Lobi Stars, the finalists of 2005’s Nigerian Cup and former club of Nigerian international Bartholomew Ogbeche. Spending a year or so with them, he went on to represent his country at the U-20 World Cup 2005 (which, I might add, is coming to Canada and I already have my tickets :D). During a great tournament, in which he scored two clutch goals and in which his side lost to a thunderous Argentine side led by Leo Messi, he was spied by the formidable OM, for which he signed a contract that very summer.

Brought in to fill the void Bixente Lizarazu had left when he had departed for Bayern Munich, Taiwo was not a frequent starter, and only played four games. Last year, he brought his A-game and cracked the starting eleven, playing a total of 30 league games and scoring three goals in all competitions.

Feared across the country for his deadly shot, which was clocked at over 130 km/h (close to 82 mph) on a free kick in last year’s Coupe de France semi-final, his tackling ability is also renowned.

That said, watch out for this young buck, I’m counting on the big guns cozying up to OM for a generous offer. Valencia was ready to trade Pablo Aimar and a handful of euros for him last summer, but that fell through.

Tony Sylva, Lille’s goalkeeper, was named best African keeper at the CAF Awards gala. He and Taiwo are the only Ligue 1 players to be named to the Best XI, although the likes of Essien, Zokora, Diarra and of course Drogba have enjoyed French League action.

Taye’s wonder strike in the CdF last season

Taiwo - OM 2-0 Rennes - 2005-2006
envoyé par charlaye

Compilation video
(translation near the end: He even got Gimenez to score! Even Ribéry couldn’t do it!) This is a tribute to Cristian Gimenez, OM’s former striker with two wooden legs who couldn’t score to save his life.