AFCON 2023: 20 Star Players To Watch Out For

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023) would make a return again after it was successfully held in Cameroon in 2022 with Senegal crowned Champions of the 33rd edition.

Since the inaugural edition of the Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Sudan in 1957, football fans have continuously been entertained by the best of talents who are privileged to grace the prestigious tournament.

With more than 200 players set to compete for success in Cote d’Ivoire, we’ll profile the top 20 players to watch out for AFCON 2023.

Star Players To Watch Out For In AFCON 2023

1. Wilfred Zaha – (Cote D’Ivoire)

Age: 30

Position: Winger

Club: Galatasaray

Admittedly, Zaha hasn’t really lit up the prestigious African showpiece since he switched allegiance to represent Cote D’Ivoire in 2016 at the international level.

However, he remains the star to watch as the Elephants prep up to host the AFCON 2023 on home soil next year.

Zaha is going into next year’s tournament on the back of a brilliant start to life at Galatasaray, scoring two goals and contributing one assist in 12 games for the Turkish giant.

The Elephants are placed in Group A alongside three-time champions Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in this year’s AFCON finals, as such he’d be expected to bring his top-notch performance to the fore with his trickery and nimbleness.

2. Victor Osimhen – (Nigeria)

Age: 22

Club: S.S Napoli

Since replacing Odion Ighalo in the Super Eagles’ set-up, the onus of leading the line properly and efficiently has been the responsibility of Osimhen.

An impressive year in Serie A last season and a brilliant performance during the AFCON 2023 qualifications round suggest the lanky forward could replicate the beast-like form we witnessed last season once the tournament commences in Cote d’Ivoire.

Admittedly, Osimhen will be expected to shoulder the goal-scoring responsibility at next year’s showpiece, considering his goal contributions during the qualifiers which stood him out as the highest goal-scorer.

If he stays healthy and fit fans should watch out for Osimhen, the lanky, strong and energetic goal-poacher who annihilated Serie A’ defenders with aplomb last season.

3. Mohammed Kudus – (Ghana)

Age: 23

Club: West Ham United

There’s a new hero for the Black Stars of Ghana and his name is Mohammed Kudus a brilliant and talented youngster who is turning heads at West Ham United.

The Black Stars, admittedly will certainly want to rely on Thomas Partey and Andre Ayew’s experience going into the Nation’s Cup, but on the flip side based on form and consistency the star to watch out for is Mo Kudus.

For those who are not aware, Kudus is the embodiment of a new type of player who understands the beautiful game having passed through one of the most renowned and prestigious academies in the world.

Our advice to defenders who’d grace the tournament is to be fully prepared for the West Ham star because he’s coming as a defence tormentor.

4. Hakim Ziyech – (Morocco)

Age: 30

Club: Galatasaray

If Ziyech’s performances for Morocco at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar were anything to go by, perhaps the Atlas Lions fans should expect a sublime performance.

At the 2019 edition in Egypt, the playmaker was made the poster boy of Morocco’s Nation’s Cup outing but failed woefully to drag the team by the scruff of the neck to the finals.

Nonetheless, with the bad memories of the 2019 and 2021 outings far behind them, many would expect to see Morocco dream for glory in Cote D’Ivoire with Ziyech et al as the commander-in-chief for the Atlas Lions.

5. Percy Tau – (South Africa)

Age: 29

Club: Al-Ahly

South Africa’s last meaningful performance at the Africa Cup of Nations was a quarter-final finish in 2013 and 2019 respectively, while they failed to qualify for the 2021 edition in Cameroon.

With the 34th edition set to take centre stage in Cote D’Ivoire, the Bafana Bafana would be expected to rewrite their wrong for missing the 2021 showpiece with Percy Tau leading the line for them.

Tau will certainly be South Africa’s go-to man in terms of creativity, experience and leadership having been one of the country’s best players in the last decade.

If Tau stays fit, he could play an instrumental role for South Africa as their talisman.

6. Pape Matar Sarr – (Senegal)

Age: 21

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

Nations Cup champions Senegal would doubtless want to replicate their success at the last edition in Cameroon once next year’s showpiece commences in Cote D’Ivoire.

The Teranga Lions of Senegal achieved the unthinkable under the tutelage of Aliou Cisse in 2021 when he guided the boys to the pinnacle of success on African soil for the first time in the history of Senegal.

Being the holder of the tournament many would expect Senegal to compete with some of their experienced stars like Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly.

However, while the above statement is facts about Senegal and their experienced players, still the star player to watch is none other than Tottenham Hotspur’s Pape Matar Sarr.

The CAF Young Player of the Year award holder has been a mainstay in Spur’s team this season under Ange Postecoglu, showing his deftness, technicality on the ball, energy and combativeness as a midfielder.

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7. Bryan Mbeumo – (Cameroon)

Age: 24

Club: Brentford

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are one of the most successful nations in Africa to have won the trophy multiple times, as such with the 34th showpiece beckoning they’d want to add next year’s edition to their cabinet.

Cameroon may currently not be blessed with amazing talents in the mode of players they paraded in the 2000’s era, yet, they’re still blessed with young, energetic and brilliant stars and among them is Bryan Mbeumo.

The diminutive forward is one of Brentford’s most important players under the tutelage of Thomas Frank, scoring and creating goals with aplomb either as a winger or striker.

Since he switched allegiance from France to wear the Cameroonian jersey, he’s attended one Nation’s Cup with the Indomitable Lions and with the next one knocking on the door, Mbeumo’s would be key for Rigobert Song’s led-team.

8. Mohamed Salah – (Egypt)

Age: 30

Club: Liverpool

The 2019 African Player of the Year, Mo Salah, would once again spearhead the Pharaoh’s attack as the outright superstar of the team.

The 2021 edition was a huge disappointment for Salah and the whole of Egypt having lost in the final to Senegal, but with the next edition set to go down in two months’ time, they’d definitely want to rewrite their wrong in Cote D’Ivoire.

The Pharaoh’s reliance on the Liverpool superstar is well renowned when he’s healthy and fit, but they’ve also shown many times that they could play without their starman in the team.

Should Egypt and Salah play well in Cote d’Ivoire, their chances of claiming an eighth African title look visible because of their reputation in the tournament.

9. Dango Ouattara – (Burkina Faso)

Age: 21

Club: Bournemouth

Ouattara has been one of Burkina Faso’s breakthrough talents since his time at Lorient, where he played under the leadership of Le Bris before joining Bournemouth in January.

For what it’s worth the 21-year-old was one of the spate of January signings that helped propel Bournemouth to Premier League safety last season, as such his nations we’d hope he turns up for them once the tournament commences.

Should Ouattara stay healthy and fit, he’s without mincing word about the star to watch at the Africa Cup of Nations next year alongside the experienced Bertrand Traore and Issa Kabore.

10. Yves Bissouma – (Mali)

Age: 27

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

If there’s any player in the Premier League who has turned around his career in style it is Bissouma under Spur’s new manager Ange Postecoglou, who has hit the ground running in English football since joining from Celtic in the summer.

Bissouma didn’t only make a strong start to the new season, he’s performed brilliantly in all of the games he’s played this season combining his physical, defensive and offensive play into results for Tottenham.

The Malian did struggle with injuries last season missing up to 15 games across all competitions with an ankle fracture, but with his return this season, football fans should watch out for the best of Bissouma.

11. Serhou Guirassy – (Guinea)

Age – 27

Club: VFB Stuttgart

With 15 goals scored so far in the Bundesliga this season to become the second player in the 21st century in Europe’s top five leagues to score 14+ goals in the first eight matches of a season, it’s a no-brainer for Guirassy not to light up the tournament with goals.

If you’re not religiously following action away from the Premier League it’s easy for players’ performances to slip through the cracks.

Guirassy’s fox-like instinct in front of goal in the Bundesliga this season, it’s very hard for soccer fans not to hear or talk about his exploit so far.

If you’re a fan of prolific and efficient strikers perhaps you should be on the lookout for Serhou Guirassy in Cote D’Ivoire as he leads the line for Guinea.

12. Said Benrahma – (Algeria)

Age:

Club: West Ham

Riyad Mahrez is admittedly Algeria’s poster boy going into the Africa Cup of Nations, but West Ham’s Benrahma is the man to watch out for.

The Algerian has been a mainstay in Moyes’s team since he moved from Brentford in the summer of 2020, helping West Ham to win the Europa Conference League last season.

Should Algeria get it right, Benrahma is destined to play an instrumental role in their quest to win the African showpiece.

13. Yoane Wissa – (DR Congo)

Age: 27

Club: Brentford

Much like Mbeumo, Wissa has had additional goal-scoring responsibility thrust upon his shoulders in the absence of Ivan Toney for Brentford in the Premier League.

With the AFCON 2023 set to commence in two months’ time, the DR Congo fans would hope to see him shouldering the goal-scoring responsibility of DR Congo in the quest to compete for the title.

Wissa may not be wearing the jersey of the biggest football club in Europe, however, one thing that is certain is that DR Congo and the fans should expect some sort of magic from him once the balls get rolling in Cote d’Ivoire.

14. Anis Ben Slimane – (Tunisia)

Age: 22

Club: Sheffield United

Ben Slimane is a Tunisian summer recruit for Sheffield United from Brondby, but yet to play an important role in the Blades’s run of games this season due to a hamstring injury.

The 22-year-old may have been plagued with an injury that saw him sit out of Tunisia’s September fixtures, but there’s no doubt he’ll be back in the mix to lead the Carthage Eagles as their starman.

If Tunisia are to replicate the same performances they exhibited in Cameroon when they dumped out Nigeria and perhaps surpass it, then including Ben Slimane into the squad going to the AFCON 2023 is very important.

15. Jesus Owono – (Equatorial Guinea)

Age: 22

Club: Deportivo Alaves

If there’s any country that’d be praying for another fairytale run at next year’s Nation’s Cup, it is Equatorial Guinea for getting to the quarter-finals of the last edition in Cameroon.

With them prepping for their third appearance, the fans would hope to see Jesus Owono replicate the brilliant performance he displayed in 2021 when they faceoff with Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau next year.

The 22-year-old goalie may not be playing for the best club in Europe, but he’s admittedly the player to watch out for when Equatorial Guinea files out next year.

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16. Patson Daka – (Zambia)

Age: 25

Club: Leicester City

The Chipolopolo who are pooled in Group F alongside Morocco, DR Congo and Tanzania are certainly not minors considering their reputation and pedigree when it comes to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Bearing that in mind Leicester City’s forward Daka would solely rely on, being the star player of the team, having finished as joint-leading scorer during the 2021 qualifying rounds.

In that context, with the Chipolopolo set to face off with some of Africa’s best teams during the tournament, Daka would be expected to come through for Zambia with his performance.

17. M’bala Mzola – (Angola)

Age: 27

Club: Fiorentina

Nzola is one of Angola’s most underrated players who plays outside the shores of the country with Fiorentina in Serie A.

The 27-year-old has been one of the most consistent performers for Angola during the qualifying rounds even when some of the key players in the team are ruled out due to injuries.

The bulky attacker has only turned out for Fiorentina seven times this season in Serie A, but with the AFCON knocking on the door he’d be key for the Palancas Negras in Cote D’Ivoire considering his experience, leadership skill and talent.

18. Ivanildo Fernandes – (Cape Verde)

Age: 27

Club: Ittihad Kalba

For decades Blue Sharks football suffered from an identity crisis which led to many of their players’ past and present plays for different national teams.

But since they got a grip on their football and made efforts to build the national team, they’ve been able to qualify for the biggest football showpiece in Africa.

While the above statement is facts about Cape Verde’s national team, the player to be on the lookout for is Ivanildo Fernandes a Portuguese-born defender who decided to play for the Blue Sharks.

19. Edmilson Dove – (Mozambique)

Age: 29

Club: Kaizer Chiefs

Mozambique returns to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in over a decade thanks to the leadership of Edmilson Dove as the captain of the team.

After 11 years of absence, the Mambas are finally back as they set to face off with some of the best teams on the continent once the tournament commences.

With Mozambique back in the running for the most prestigious competition in Africa, the player many would hope to see next year is Dove who plays for Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa.

20. James Gomez – (Gambia)

Age: 21

Club: Sparta Prague

If we’re to go by Gomez’s performance at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, then it is safe to say he’s one of the players to watch.

The Scorpions’ superstar didn’t only perform brilliantly at the last edition, but he also led like a leader despite Gambia not progressing to the quarter-finals.

Should Gomez make the 22-man squad for the showpiece next year, the responsibility of protecting the Scorpion’s defence would certainly rest on his shoulders as an experienced player.

 

 

 

FAQs

How can I livestream AFCON 2023?

You can watch the streaming services on – FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Vidgo, using streaming devices such as Android TV and Apple TV, on mobiles and tablets, and on any internet-enabled gaming consoles.

Is there a way to watch Bein Sports channels for free?

No!

beIN Sports HD is available for free, but all other content within their network requires a subscription.

Many of the streaming services mentioned in this guide that offer beIN Sports channels provide free trial options, allowing you to test them out before committing to a subscription.

Where can I watch beIN Sports en Español?

If you want to watch beIN Sports en Español, you need to be careful with which cable provider or streaming service you get.

The channel is currently available through the likes of Charter, Verizon Fios, COX, and Latin American Pay TV service Claro.

What worldwide broadcasters have rights to AFCON 2023?

In Africa, the Africa Cup of Nations will be available on CAF TV for free and Supersport for those who use a paid subscription (DSTV)

For viewers in Europe, beIN Sports is the channel to watch. In both the UK and Australia, fans can expect comprehensive coverage as Kayo Sports is set to broadcast all the matches.

Who will host AFCON 2023?

Ivory Coast is set to host AFCON 2023. Originally, Ivory Coast was meant to host the 2021 edition, but the delay was caused by a chain reaction from the 2019 tournament.

In 2019, Cameroon was initially designated as the host, but they lost the opportunity due to delays in stadium construction and essential infrastructure preparations. Consequently, CAF reassigned the hosting rights to Cameroon for 2021, resulting in Ivory Coast’s hosting turn being postponed to 2023.

Why is AFCON 2023 being played in 2024?

Originally planned for the summer of 2023, AFCON 2023 has been rescheduled to January-February 2024 to avoid the rainy season in West and Central Africa.

How does a team qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations?

Leading up to the tournament, every African nation participates in qualification rounds, where the victors of each qualifying group and contenders who succeed in various play-off rounds secure their spots in the main event.

For AFCON 2023, a total of 24 teams have successfully qualified.

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What is the AFCON format?

AFCON’s format involves an initial group stage followed by a knockout phase, spanning from the Last 16 to the final.

There are six groups, each consisting of four teams.

The top two teams from each group advance directly to the knockout stage, while an extra four spots are allocated to the top-performing third-placed teams.

The criteria for ranking the best-performing third-placed teams are as follows, in descending order of priority: 1) Points, 2) Goal Difference, 3) Goals Scored, 4) Disciplinary Points, and 5) Drawing of lots.

Which teams have qualified for AFCON 2023?

The full list of teams that have qualified for the 2023 AFCON are: Ivory Coast (qualified as host nation), Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Egypt, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Mali and Guinea.

When did the Africa Cup of Nations start?

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) started in 1957.

This prestigious international football tournament for African national teams held its first edition in Sudan. It has traditionally taken place every two years, although there have been exceptions, including postponed or rescheduled tournaments.

Which team has won the most Africa Cup of Nations tournaments?

Egypt – 7 AFCONs

Egypt holds the record for the most Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament wins, having won the trophy an impressive seven times.

Closely followed by Cameroon, which has won the tournament five times.

Other successful teams in the competition include Ghana, with four victories, and Nigeria, with three. The upcoming tournament’s hosts, Ivory Coast, have secured the AFCON title twice.