The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is poised to commence in Ivory Coast on January 13, bringing together some of the continent’s premier football talent in a quest for the championship.
Almost all 24 participating teams have unveiled their final squads for the tournament, slated to conclude on February 11, 2024.
As anticipation builds for the 34th edition of the competition, Naija News has highlighted several standout players to keep an eye on:
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1. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria):
The 25-year-old Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, stands out as a must-watch player at the tournament. Absent from the 2021 edition due to fitness concerns, Osimhen enters the competition as the reigning CAF player of the year, the 8th-ranked player in the 2023 Ballon d’Or, and the highest goal-scorer in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers. Set to debut in the AFCON, Osimhen is expected to shine in Group A, which includes hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.
2. Mohamed Salah (Egypt):
Mohamed Salah, a 31-year-old Egyptian striker, is poised to be one of the standout football stars at the 2023 AFCON. With notable achievements for both club and country, Salah led Egypt to the final of the previous edition, where they were defeated by Senegal. In the upcoming tournament, the Liverpool winger aims to help Egypt secure the title, ending a 13-year drought. As the ‘Egyptian King’ in top form for Liverpool, Salah is expected to guide his country through Group B, featuring Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.
3. Serhou Guirassy (Guinea):
Renowned for his prolific goal-scoring form, Serhou Guirassy, a 27-year-old striker, has garnered attention in Europe with 15 goals in just 10 German Bundesliga games this season. Expected to leverage this form, Guirassy aims to lead Guinea out of Group C, which includes reigning AFCON champions Senegal, Cameroon, and the Gambia.
4. Mohammed Kudus (Ghana):
West Ham United’s versatile midfielder, Mohammed Kudus, emerges as Ghana’s star player heading into the 2023 AFCON. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder, who joined West Ham from Ajax last summer, has contributed six goals and one assist in 16 Premier League games this season. Kudus is anticipated to play a pivotal role in helping Ghana advance from Group B, competing against Egypt, Mozambique, and Cape Verde.
5. Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco):
Currently a standout player in the Moroccan national team, Azzedine Ounahi is expected to be one of the key stars at the 2023 AFCON. Having secured a move to French giants Marseille last summer after Morocco’s historic run in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Ounahi, despite a toe injury setback in 2023, is eagerly anticipated for his performance in Ivory Coast. Morocco, placed in Group F alongside DR Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania, looks to Ounahi to make a significant impact.