Who to watch out for in the African Cup of Nations
EGYPTIAN KING: Egypt's Mohamed Salah, AP Photo/Themba Hadebe.
The 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations kicks off this evening with hosts Ivory Coast taking on Guinea-Bissau.
A number of big names that have previously lit up the Premier League, or one, in particular, who is still banging in the goals in England’s top-flight, will be looking to lead their nation to glory.
Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane will be aiming to secure back-to-back AFCON titles for Senegal, former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez will be hoping to reclaim the silverware for Algeria while Mohamed Salah will be trying to land the top prize in African football for the first time.
Egypt, who have won more AFCON titles than any other nation with seven, haven’t got their hands on the trophy since 2010 while for Salah, it’s the one glaring gold medal missing from his collection having lost his two final appearances in 2017 and 2021.
But while the tournament’s spotlight will shine brightly on Salah, Mane and Mahrez - Hakim Ziyech will also be hoping to have his say with the World Cup’s surprise package Morocco – we have selected some other known and lesser knowns players to keep an eye on between now and the final on the 11th of February.
If it was slightly bit harsh not to mention Nigeria amongst the countries in contention for the AFCON title above, it was certainly harsh not to mention Victor Osimhen amongst the stars that could inspire their nation to victory.
Osimhen became one of the hottest properties in world football last season when he finished as leading scorer in Serie A and helping Napoli to their first league title since 1990.
He was denied the chance to show his quality at the 2022 Qatar World Cup as Nigeria suffered defeat in their playoff against Ghana so this AFCON 2023 marks the 25 year old’s first chance to shine on the international stage.
Some YouTubers have been trying to influence youngsters recently that Mohammed Kudus is a better player than the aforementioned Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah.
While it may be a little early to claim that crown, Kudus is enjoying a tremendous season with West Ham United.
if the 23-year-old, who has scored 10 goals in 24 matches in all competitions for the Hammers so far this season, continues that form in the coming weeks, Ghana fans will be dreaming of glory.
In the absence of Thomas Partey, former Republic of Ireland international Chris Hughton, who was also recently linked with the Irish vacancy, will need a reliable defensive-minded midfielder to cover for their exciting forwards such as Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Ernest Nuameh and bother Jordan and Andrew Ayew.
Abdul Samed joined Lens for €5m in June 2022 and started 33 games as they finished only a point behind Paris Saint-Germain in the title race. This season, he started all six of Lens’ Champions League games including their win against Arsenal on home soil.
Minteh has yet to play for Newcastle United as shortly after he joined the Magpies from Danish club OB for around £6m last summer, he was sent out on loan to Dutch side Feyenoord.
A muscle injury had an impact on the 19-year old’s form in autumn but despite only making six starts in the Eredivisie this season, he has bagged five league goals and assists and scored as a substitute away at Celtic in the Champions League in December.
Senegal are the reigning champions and their main men behind their bid to make it back-to-back successes are Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy.
But given that trio have been playing glorified friendlies in Saudi Arabia, the team may need a fresh impetus. Lamine Camara is the youngest in the squad by 16 months, but he has been making great progress as a box-to-box midfielder since joining Metz from Generation Foot academy last February.
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