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Julian Nagelsmann, with a slight jab at Said El Mala, expressed optimism that Germany’s remarkable journey under his guidance will continue, while also predicting a bright future for World Cup replacement Assan Ouedraogo.

Taking over the spot of the unlucky Lennart Karl, Assan Ouedraogo reached Germany’s World Cup camp a day earlier than the rest of his teammates, gaining a small advantage from the start. His warm greeting of “Nice to meet you” to the staff reflected the positive impression he had already left on the national coach.

Unlike Said El Mala, Ouedraogo is described as being “in top form”, “in rhythm”, and having made a “fantastic impression”.

Nagelsmann praised Ouedraogo as “a genuinely wonderful person, very friendly and open” and, more importantly, “an immensely gifted player”.

While the 20-year-old was still being driven around the vast premises of the team’s lavish accommodation, Graylyn Estate in Winston-Salem, via a golf cart, fans began to wonder why Nagelsmann had chosen Ouedraogo instead of Said El Mala or Chris Führich. The coach explained that following Lennart Karl’s unfortunate World Cup withdrawal, he was determined to bring in another young player. According to Nagelsmann, unlike Cologne’s El Mala, the 20-year-old RB Leipzig midfielder is “in top form and in the groove. He’ll take us further.”

That belief stems from Ouedraogo’s stunning debut last November in Leipzig, when he needed just 102 seconds to score after coming off the bench against Slovakia. Nagelsmann recalled that Ouedraogo, “just like Lenny”, instantly “made a top impression on us, unlike some other young players”. He added that the feedback from the rest of the squad about Ouedraogo had been “extremely positive”.

The national coach reconnected with the young attacker during his holiday in Marbella, Spain, after RB Leipzig’s pre-season tour in South Africa. Upon learning of his last-minute call-up, Ouedraogo admitted, “I needed a moment to process it,” describing the selection as “a huge honour” and a “childhood dream come true”.

Ouedraogo: Between young prodigy and injury struggles

Born to a footballing family—his father Alassane Ouedraogo represented 1. FC Köln and earned 62 caps for Burkina Faso—Assan had been chasing the professional dream since the age of nine as part of Schalke’s youth academy. Eight years later, he helped Germany lift the U17 European Championship and was part of the team that became U17 World Cup champions in 2023.

RB Leipzig coach Ole Werner has stated that Ouedraogo is capable of “anything” and foresees “many more extraordinary moments” ahead. Teammate David Raum echoed that sentiment, saying the youngster “has his heart in the right place” and that “we can expect a lot more from him”.

The new Leipzig signing is known for his versatility in attack, though he prefers to operate through the centre. Despite a history of injuries, he combines strength and dynamism with outstanding technical ability and spatial awareness. Nagelsmann has particularly praised his “ball-winning skills”, pace, dribbling ability, and knack for scoring goals.

Teammate Christoph Baumgartner jokingly remarked that Ouedraogo sometimes needs “a little push”, though Nagelsmann himself prefers to motivate through encouragement. The German coach urged the young midfielder to “play bravely and freely”, adding, “Believe in yourself, have a great World Cup, and make the most of the small advantage you have.”