Three African talents in contention for Ligue 2 September award

Islamdine Halifa, Ethan Kena-Kabeya and Chamsedin Kouranfal have been nominated for the Ligue 2 BKT Pepite du mois award for September.

The three young players represent Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Morocco, and have followed very different paths into French football’s second tier.

Halifa, a 21-year-old defensive midfielder at Red Star, started all three of the club’s Ligue 2 matches during September. He made a decisive contribution in their away win at Guingamp by providing both assists.

His influence has grown steadily in the Red Star midfield, where his energy, availability and ability to contribute in possession have made him an important player. Halifa combines the work of a ball-winner with a willingness to move forward and support attacks.

His market value is estimated at 700,000 euros by Transfermarkt.

Kena-Kabeya seeking to establish himself at Clermont

At 20, Ethan Kena-Kabeya is regarded as one of the young players Clermont Foot hope to develop for the future. Born in 2006, the right-footed central defender came through the academy at Chateauroux before joining Clermont in 2024.

A loan spell at FC Villefranche Beaujolais gave him valuable playing time and greater exposure to the demands of senior football. He then returned to Clermont aiming to secure a regular place in Ligue 2.

The club rewarded his progress in August by extending his contract until 2028.

Kena-Kabeya’s nomination recognises a player whose development has been based more on consistency and improvement than attacking statistics. At his age, every start, successful duel and appearance represents another stage in his move towards becoming an established professional.

Like Halifa, his market value is estimated at 700,000 euros, underlining the potential he is considered to possess.

Kouranfal’s rapid rise from Regional 1

Chamsedin Kouranfal’s emergence is the most dramatic of the three stories. The 20-year-old Stade de Reims midfielder moved from Regional 1 football to Ligue 2 within only a few weeks.

He made an immediate impact on his professional debut, scoring against Annecy. Just months earlier, he had been playing for Pagny-sur-Moselle in Regional 1.

During September, Kouranfal played 162 minutes, scored once, and was selected in the team of the sixth matchday. He also reached a top speed of 34.6 km/h against Montpellier, according to Stade de Reims.

His rapid progress has made him one of the players to watch in the Reims midfield. While Halifa’s nomination reflects growing influence and Kena-Kabeya’s highlights patient development, Kouranfal’s place on the shortlist represents an unexpected breakthrough from amateur football to the professional game.

The three nominees are all aged 20 or 21 and each has a market value estimated at 700,000 euros. Their selection also highlights the growing presence of young African talent in Ligue 2, with Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Morocco represented in the shortlist.