Salis Abdul Samed, a midfielder for Ghana, will likely reach a key career milestone on Wednesday when RC Lens plays Sevilla, the UEFA Europa League champions, in a Champions League match. The French club is now back in the competition after a two-decade hiatus.
The exceptional player, who is only 22 years old, was a member of the prestigious JMG Academy just four years ago, but his journey to the top of the sport has been incredibly rapid.
His extraordinary journey started with a standout loan stint at Clermont Foot, where he attracted attention with his skills. He then managed to win a long-term deal with the French team, quickly turning into one of their most crucial players.
Beginning his professional career with Clermont Foot B, he quickly rose to become the main midfielder for the first club, making an astounding 41 games.
When Salis Abdul Samed eventually obtained his senior call-up to the Black Stars, his quick ascent in professional football took a very favourable turn. He immediately left a big impression to guarantee his spot in the national squad. The former Clermont Foot midfielder was selected to play against Switzerland on November 17, 2022, in one of the pre-tournament friendly despite not taking part in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. He played the entire match. He participated fully in the game and was praised by the audience, who named him one of the game’s top performers.
He later developed a solid connection with Thomas Partey for all three of Ghana’s World Cup games, being one of the few players to earn all three points.
He continued to make a substantial contribution after returning to his team, closely trailing eventual champions Paris St-Germain. Numerous awards were given to him for his constant dependability, including the great honour of being named the best French Ligue 1 midfielder of the season by the reputable French media site Get French Football News.
He was also named one of the top eleven players in the statistical analysis conducted by the Football News agency. Following his remarkable 31 appearances, he was included in this prestigious list along with other elite players from the season, including Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi.
Salis Abdul Samed was also vying for the famous Marc Vivien Foe Award, which acknowledges the finest African player competing in French Ligue 1. The award is named for the late Cameroonian star, and Salis Abdul Samed was up for it. Despite his great efforts, Chancel Mbemba, a DR Congo defender for Olympique Marseille, won the prize by a razor-thin margin.
Nevertheless, RC Lens enjoyed outstanding success by placing second in the French Ligue in 2022–23, only behind PSG. For the team, this accomplishment was a key turning point because it allowed them to rejoin the Champions League after a two-decade absence.
Additionally, Salis Abdul Samed was competing for the prestigious Marc Vivien Foe Award, which honours the best African player competing in French Ligue 1. Salis Abdul Samed was nominated for the prize, which bears the name of the late Cameroonian performer. Chancel Mbemba, an Olympique Marseille defender from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, narrowly won the prize despite his valiant efforts.
However, RC Lens had exceptional success by finishing second in the French Ligue in 2022–2023—just behind PSG. This victory marked a significant turning point for the team because it allowed them to return to the Champions League after a two-decade hiatus.
