When Kojo Peprah Oppong signed for OGC Nice from Swedish side IFK Norrköping this summer, few expected the 21-year-old Ghanaian defender to make an immediate impact. He was brought in for a modest fee and earmarked for gradual development behind the Ligue 1 club’s seasoned centre-backs.

But Oppong has flipped that script in record time. After a cameo debut in August against Benfica during a UEFA Champions League qualifier, the young centre-back has started every competitive match since—including last weekend’s Ligue 1 fixture with FC Nantes—even as veteran captain Dante returned from injury.

“I’m surprised,” Oppong admitted after the Nantes game. “I didn’t expect to play this much in the beginning, but I’m taking it step by step and I expect a lot from myself.”

Dante himself has become an invaluable mentor, offering lessons on game management and conserving energy. “He said it’s important to manage the game, to save energy, and especially when we’re leading, not to attack too much as centre-backs,” Oppong explained.

His composure and rapid adaptation have made him one of the early revelations of the Ligue 1 season. Back home in Ghana, fans are already hailing him as a defensive star in the making—a player poised to anchor Nice’s back line and perhaps the Black Stars’ future as well.