11 players to watch at AFCON 23
Joining established stars such as Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Victor Osimhen, Riyad Mahrez and Achraf Hakimi at the 2023 African Cup of Nations will be some of the most exciting emerging talents in football | Here are 11 players to watch in the Ivory Coast when the tournament kicks off on 14 January.
Serhou Guirassy – Stuttgart | Guinea
Somewhat hidden from view amid the lengthy shadow cast by Harry Kane in the Bundesliga this season is Stuttgart marksman Guirassy, the third-top scorer in Europe this season with 17 goals from just 14 games. Before the Englishman ramped up his efforts to make Bundesliga history in his first season, Guirassy was taking the league by storm with a better-than 100 percent goals to games ratio of his own. Clinical, quick and opportunistic, Guirassy leads the line for an intriguing Guinea outfit that boasts a potent mix of youth and experience with the likes of captin Naby Keita, midfielders Ilaix Moriba and Karim Cisse, and defender Mouctar Diakhaby. They'll have their work cut out in a tough Group C that includdes Cameroon, Senegal and Gambia.
The African stars lighting up the Bundesliga:
Kamory Doumbia – Stade Brest | Mali
Doumbia was considered surplus to requirements at Reims this season, so he was loaned to Ligue 1 rival Stade Brest. The Malian didn’t waist his opportunity, bursting into the football consciousness with a stunning four-goal first half burst in his side’s 4-0 win over Lorient just before the Christmas break. That performance was enough to earn the 20 year-old a place in Mali’s stacked squad, where he’ll hope to see plenty of pitch time in the Ivory Coast, with The Eagles drawn against Tunisia, Namibia and South Africa in Group E.
Mohammed Kudus – West Ham | Ghana
The versatile West Ham attacker can slot in anywhere across the middle of the pitch or forward line, making him a vital member of Chris Hughton’s Ghana outfit. The 24 year-old possesses close ball control, an eye for the killer pass and an ability to rifle them home from practically anywhere on the pitch. With Arsenal star Thomas Partey out of the Black Stars squad through injury, Kudus is set to take centre stage as he looks to link up with star forwards Inaki Williams and the Ayew brothers Jordan and Andre.
Anis Ben Slimane – Sheffield United | Tunisia
The Denmark-born midfielder is one to watch for Tunisia, having literally muscled his way into the national team after a frustrating junior career in which he struggled to nail down a club. Slimane is strong on the ball and likes to surge forward out of midfield, using his pace and strength to create havoc. The 24 year-old who represented Denmark in the lower age groups is strong in the air and tough to defend, making him an essential cog in the Eagles of Carthage engine room.
Patson Daka – Leicester City | Zambia
The Leicester attacker has pace to burn, finishing ability and an insatiable work-rate, often dragging defenders out of position with his busy off-the-ball running. The 25 year-old scored 54 goals in 82 games during a prolific four-year stint at RB Salzburg and, while the going has been a little tougher in England, the Zambian star has cemented himself in the Championship pace-setting Foxes’ attack. The Copper Bullets famously won AFCON against the odds in 2012 and with Daka and former Rangers FC star Fashion Sakala leading the line, they could again be the tournament's surprise package.
Edmond Tapsoba - Bayer Leverkusen | Burkina Faso
The Burkina Faso defender is an established member of Xabi Alonso’s undefeated Bayer Leverkusen backline, having started in 14 of his undefeated side’s 16 Bundesliga matches so far in 23/24. The 24 year-old is quick, skilful and likes to get forward, creating an overlap and contributing to his team’s attack from his position on the right. The Bayer build-up play is a delight to watch under the Spaniard, and Tapsoba is an integral part of that process. Look for him to link up withAston Villa striker Bertrand Traore as The Stallions eye qualification for the knockout rounds out of Group D.
Ben Elliot – Reading | Cameroon
It speaks volumes of Elliot’s potential that the 21 year-old has been included in manager Rigobert Song’s stacked Cameroon squad. The defensive midfielder burst onto the scene as a junior at Chelsea, before securing a move to Reading in August after an injury-plagued few seasons at the Blues. Elliot is a brilliant defensive player, with an eye for the right pass when transitioning from defence to attack. While he may struggle for game-time in the later rounds of Cameroon’s campaign, if the Indomitable Lions are in a position to qualify after the first two group stage games, Elliot could get a start against Gambia on 24 January.
Silas – Stuttgart | DR Congo
One of the unsung heroes behind Stuttgart’s successful first half of the Bundesliga season, wide attacking star Silas will be hoping to carry his strong form into the Africa Cup of Nations with DR Congo. Blindingly fast and renowned for his surging runs into the box, Silas will be one of the major attacking outlets in a strong Leopards forward line that includes Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Galatasaray veteran Cedric Bakambu. They'll need to fire if DR Congo is to get out of a challenging Group F that includes Morocco, Zambia and Tanzania.
Pape Gueye | Marseille – Senegal
Among the latest talents to roll off Senegal’s production line is Marseille midfielder Pape Gueye, who seems built for Gennaro Gattuso’s tough, uncompromising style. A hard-tackling box-to-box midfielder, Gueye has risen to prominence under the leadership of the Italian, who’s turned around Marseille’s fortunes since taking over in September. Gueye will also be right at home in his national team, which plays a direct, fast style reliant on quick transitions out of defence. Discipline may be an issue for the 23 year-old, who can’t afford many brushes with the coloured cardboard in a tournament environment.
Victor Boniface | Bayer Leverkusen | Nigeria
Not far behind Harry Kane and Serhou Guirassy in the Bundesliga goal-scoring ranks sits Boniface, who has thrived since linking up with Bayer Leverkusen this season. Tall, strong and skilful, the 23 year-old has fired home 14 goals and contributed seven assists in his team’s remarkable unbeaten start to the season. Boniface has the charisma of the great strikers and a presence in the box that makes him a nightmare for defenders. His only issue for Nigeria may be game-time and a phenomenal forward roster that includes Alex Iwobi, Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze, to name a few!
Boniface goals & assists in 23/24
Omar Marmoush | Eintracht Frankfurt | Egypt
When you think of Egyptian star attackers, Marmoush’s name might not be the first that springs to mind. But that is set to change in the Ivory Coast. The 24 year-old rising star was brought in to Eintracht Frankfurt in May to replace Randal Kolo-Muani - after the latter secured a move to PSG – and Marmoush has delivered in his 14 games for the Bundesliga club so far, scoring seven goals. He's contributed four goals from seven Europa Conference League matches. Dribbling and a powerful shot are the features of Marmoush’s game and his link-up play with superstar countryman Mo Salah makes Egypt's attack one of the most dangerous on paper, headng into the tournament.
