Squad debut in Frankfurt: Kovac rewards BVB gem | OneFootball

After impressive performances in training, Mussa Kaba is called up to Borussia Dortmund's professional squad for the first time. Coach Niko Kovac is relying on the BVB gem for the away game in Frankfurt.

Borussia Dortmund is making a clear statement for its youth development at the start of the second half of the season. In the away match against Eintracht Frankfurt, Mussa Kaba is included in the BVB professional squad for the first time. The 17-year-old is being introduced to the professional player area faster than expected, benefiting from a tense personnel situation in the midfield.

After Pascal Groß's departure to England and Jobe Bellingham's red card suspension, the options in the center are limited. For coach Niko Kovac, this is the right moment to give one of the most promising talents the next opportunity. The coach made it clear at the press conference why Kaba was chosen: “He is in Frankfurt because of his good training performances.”

The defensive midfielder had already caught attention in the training camp in Marbella in recent weeks. Together with Samuele Inácio and Mathis Albert, Kaba was allowed to showcase his skills with the professionals there, leaving a convincing impression. Kovac expressly praised the trio: “They did their job very well, as I expected.”

Reward for strong performances: Kaba in the BVB squad for the first time

For Kaba, the nomination is the preliminary highlight of a rapid development. After injury problems at the start of the season, he recently gained match practice with the U23, playing several times over 90 minutes in the Regionalliga – now follows the next step on the big stage. At the same time, BVB is sending a signal towards its own youth development, which has been critically viewed recently.

Sports director Sebastian Kehl also sees such decisions as the right path: “I would wish for nothing more than for our own talents to get playing time with the professionals in the second half of the season.” He also emphasizes that opportunities must be earned – exactly what Kaba has done in recent weeks.

Whether he will get playing minutes in Frankfurt is uncertain. However, it is certain that with his first spot in the professional squad, the 17-year-old has played his way into the spotlight – and could become a symbol of a new Dortmund path, where performance and courage to trust youth come together more closely again.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.