It's been a remarkable rise over the last two years for Manchester City defender Issa Kabore from under-21 football in 2019/20 to starting the African Cup of Nations opener wearing the number nine shirt.
Signed by City as a 19-year-old after just five appearances in the Belgian top flight with Mechelen, Kabore would play a further 29 times for the club back on loan last season.
City told Kabore they would be watching his progress carefully in Belgium, with Mechelen happy to have kept him for another year.
Sporting director Tom Caluwe said at the time: "This is a win-win situation for all parties. The player himself dreams of the Premier League and can calmly prepare for that step with us.
"City has a clear path in mind and indicated that our club is important for the further development of Kaboré. And this way we can still keep Issa in Mechelen."
Kabore himself kept his reaction to a minimum, posting on Instagram: "Thank goodness and thank you everyone for the support. The fight continues."
City's plans were clear as well, tying him down to a five-year contract but keen for him to continue his development in the early stages of that period.
Blues Head of Recruitment Gary Worthington told Kabore after his signing was confirmed: "First of all I want to thank you for agreeing to sign with us. You've come on a hell of a long way in a very short space of time.
"There's going to be a lot of eyes on you, not just from Manchester City but from Mechelen supporters, from Belgium supporters, from African supporters. They're all going to be following you now.
Head of Emerging Talent Scouting and Recruitment Phil Robinson added: "Keep working hard. Don't think you've got to change your style of play because you've now signed for Manchester City. Keep doing what you're doing, keep learning from the guys there at Mechelen and I wish you all the best."
Kabore did exactly as City asked, playing regularly for Mechelen last year and registering a solid six assists from right-back and right midfield. Already a full international for Burkina Faso, Kabore has started all but one of their internationals since City signed him, all from right-back, as they qualified from their group including Riyad Mahrez's Algeria without losing a game.
In 17 international appearances, he has two goals and three assists, and was part of the starting lineup for his first African Cup of Nations game against Cameroon on Sunday. They took the lead against the hosts, but conceded two penalties and narrowly lost 2-1.
Burkina Faso, who have made allegations of a 'scandal' involving the returning of five positive Covid tests to key players on the eve of the tournament, will still hope to qualify for the knockout stages after getting their toughest game out of the way with Ethiopia and Cape Verde their other group opponents.
Speaking to new loan club ESTAC Troyes before the tournament, Kabore spoke of wanting to make his country proud and take his opportunity in a tournament he's dreamed of playing in since childhood.
He told Troyes' website : "I am very happy to participate in this competition and I can't wait to start it. In previous years I watched the competition on television and now I will find myself on the pitch. It's a pleasure to be able to play the CAN and I will give everything, especially to make the people of Burkina Faso proud.
"It is a childhood dream today to participate in this great tournament. I think we have some very good players. Some young people like me who also play their first CAN. We all want to do great things as a team. We hope to create the feat during this competition.
"I feel that there is a lot of enthusiasm around our group. The whole country knows that we can do great things and we want to confirm our good performances of these last months. We proved to everyone that we were capable and now we will have to validate our work."
Wearing the number nine shirt, Kabore played well against Cameroon and will be hoping to build on that when they face Cape Verde on Thursday before taking on Ethiopia next Monday.
Back at Troyes, where fellow City loanees Philippe Sandler and Patrick Roberts are struggling to catch the team, Kabore is a regular and has featured 18 times this season on the right flank.
He is showing the kind of progression that City look for from their loanees, and a stage like this month's AFCON tournament is a perfect chance for him to put that all together infront of a global audience.
Even before his solid showing against Cameroon, Kabore was being tipped as a potential breakout star in the tournament. If he can continue his good form over the last 18 months since signing for City, and Burkina Faso can replicate their qualification form, the next few weeks could be defining in this young right-back's career with the City Football Group.
