Samuel Junior Kotto has emerged as one of the standout stories of Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign as the 22‑year‑old centre‑back has seized his moment on the continental stage. The Gent defender, who spent his early career in Sweden after moving from Cameroon’s APEJES Academy and later joining Belgian side Gent in January 2025, has shown maturity and composure beyond his years at the heart of Cameroon’s defence.
Kotto’s performances have not gone unnoticed. Scouts from FC Barcelona were reportedly watching closely during Cameroon’s opening match against Gabon and were impressed by his physical strength, defensive authority and calmness on the ball — attributes that have helped him cope with the step up to senior international football at AFCON. His ability to read the game, carry the ball out from defence and remain composed under pressure has marked him out as a player with significant potential, with Barcelona tracking his progress as part of their broader talent identification strategy.
On the pitch, Kotto has been a regular feature in Cameroon’s back line, contributing materially to their defensive structure. In the Round of 16 win over South Africa, his involvement was notable — a deflected Carlos Baleba shot off Kotto fell kindly to Junior Tchamadeu for the opening goal, a moment that underlined his presence in crucial phases of playoff football.  More than just a defensive figure, Kotto’s calm distribution and physical command have helped Cameroon navigate challenging situations in both group fixtures and knockout competition.
Analysts and fans alike have pointed to Kotto’s leadership and positional intelligence as key factors in Cameroon’s solidity at the back, especially amid squad upheaval and adversity earlier in the tournament. As part of a youthful defensive corps that also includes other emerging talents, Kotto has helped anchor the team and shown that Cameroon’s future may well hinge on the progress of this new generation.
Interest is not limited to Spain: Turkish club Trabzonspor has also monitored Kotto closely, reflecting growing attention from European clubs who see in him the attributes of a modern centre‑half — power, anticipation and ball‑playing ability.
While his club career at Gent continues — he is under contract until 2028 — AFCON 2025 has elevated Kotto’s profile beyond Belgium. Should he maintain his level and continue to impress against top continental opposition, it would not be surprising to see the young Cameroonian defender attract significant transfer interest in the coming months, cementing his rise from promising prospect to bona fide international talent.
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