Sahid Ngobi: “My idol? Kylian Mbappé”

Cotonou—When Sahid Ngobi wheels away in celebration, ASPAC FC’s yellow-and-black shirt flapping, the 19-year-old striker is not merely saluting another goal; he is paying silent homage to the player whose poster still hangs above his bed. “My idol is Kylian Mbappé,” Ngobi says without hesitation. “I admire his mentality, his self-discipline, his maturity, and his consistency.”

Those qualities have carried the Kandi native to the summit of the Celtiis Benin Ligue 1 scoring chart at the halfway mark: 10 goals and 2 assists in 17 appearances, numbers that have turned ASPAC’s number 19 into the breakout story of the season. Yet Ngobi, an U20 international, greets the statistics with a shrug. “Alhamdoulillah first of all, but personally I don’t think I’m efficient enough yet. Given the chances I have, I know I can do better.”

It is that refusal to settle which first caught the eye of coaches at Dynamo de Parakou, the club that handed him his top-flight debut. From there he moved through AS Takunnin and SOBEMAP FC before settling at ASPAC, each step sharpening a game built on perpetual motion and ice-cool finishing. “Always on the move, always hungry, never satisfied,” he says, describing both himself and the French World-Cup winner he studies frame-by-frame on his phone.

Yououth-national-team duty has widened his lens. “In youth selections I worked with players who now really motivate those of us still playing in the local league. These experiences have greatly contributed to my development, both athletically and personally.”

While individual accolades pile up, Ngobi keeps his compass pointed outward. “On a personal level, my greatest dream is to remain a good person and give to others. In football, I want to work even harder, stay humble and keep demanding more of myself. The rest is in God’s hands.” Press him on a dream club and the answer arrives in fluent English: “Arsenal.”

The league resumes on February 28, and defenders across Benin have been put on notice. ASPAC’s precocious finisher has no intention of slowing down, and every reason to believe the second half of the campaign will be played at Mbappé-esque speed.