Teenage Prodigies: Désiré Doué and Lamine Yamal draw praise from ex-Super Eagles midfielder

Former Super Eagles and Juventus defensive midfielder, Sunday Ogochukwu Oliseh, was impressed by the performances of Désiré Doué and Lamine Yamal in the UEFA Champions League's semi-final, Soccernet.ng reports.

Désiré Doué was a class act to watch at the Emirates as his side sealed a 1-0 victory against Arsenal, while Lamine Yamal inspired Barcelona to a 3-3 comeback against Inter Milan.

Doué and Yamal are 19 and 17 years old, respectively, but the Barca youngster was included in the UEFA Team of the Week after he scored a goal against Inter Milan.

Introducing your Team of the Week! @cryptocom | #UCLTOTW pic.twitter.com/44jm0E9pm4

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 1, 2025

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Both semi-finals in the Champions League delivered with attacking flair on display for all to see, but Oliseh was mesmerised at the ability of both teenagers to keep him glued to his screen, describing them as football geniuses.

However, it also looked like the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder took a jab at Pep Guardiola's style of play.

“Players like Lamine Yamal, Désiré Doué of PSG, in my opinion, are the trending ‘Football Geniuses' set to save football from ‘overpassing, less creativity and lack of spectacle. I had a blast watching PSG and Barcelona's talents on Display. Cannot wait for next Tuesday and Wednesday. Can you?,” the former Ajax man tweeted on his X page.

Players like Lamine Yamal ,Désiré Doué of PSG in my Opinion are the Trending “Football Geniuses” set to save football from “overpassing ,less creativity and lack of spectacle”. I had a blast watching PSG and Barcelona talents on Display. Cannot wait for next Tuesday and… https://t.co/EX9ZP16ZLg

— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) May 1, 2025

Away from the youngsters, the 1994 AFCON winner also praised the more mature footballers like Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha and Bukayo Saka, tipping them to win the highly-coveted Ballon d'Or prize.

“Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has so much vision, Raphinha makes it look effortlessly easy, Saka is so nimble-footed footed it is beautiful.

“Dembele is for me in the company of Lamine Yamal, Ballon d'Or sure candidates. I am finally able to be fixated on the TV for ninety minutes thanks to these kinds of players,” Oliseh concluded.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has so much vision,Raphinha makes it look effortlessly easy,Saka is so nimble footed it is beautiful, Dembele is for me in company of Lamine Yamal Ballon D'or sure candidates… i am finally able to be fixated on the TV for ninety minutes thanks to this…

— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) May 1, 2025

Lamine Yamal's game against Inter Milan was his 100th for the Blaugrana, scoring 22 goals and providing 33 assists for the club at the tender age of 17.

He's also won the UEFA Euros and the Copa Del Rey titles, and there's more to come from the Spanish international.

Barcelona travel to the Giuseppe Meazza next Wednesday to face Inter Milan away from home, while Doué will showcase his magic as Le Parisien welcome Arsenal to the Parc de France on Tuesday.