The African Cup of Nations starts this Saturday and will provide us with many emotions. It will be a chance to see some great play, but also some nuggets. The host country, Ivory Coast is brimming with talent. We will expect a lot from central defender Ousmane Diomandé (20 years old). The Sporting CP player is the alpha and omega of his club in the defensive area and has established himself as a reference in Portugal. Mentioned in the Premier League with Arsenal, Newcastle and most recently Chelsea, he has a good chance of joining a prestigious team very quickly. Starting from the September and October meetings, he will battle with Odilon Kossounou to support Evan Ndicka in the Ivorian defense and will be one of the most anticipated defensive players.
Still with the elephants, but two notches taller, it’s hard to think of Karim Konate (19 years old). Confirming in Salzburg, the Koumasi-born striker terrorized the scorers with 10 goals and 6 offers in 25 matches. The former ASEC Mimosas have been waiting for many years and are slowly getting closer to hatching. In selection for more than two years, he is expected to replace Sebastian Heller, but he could also play alongside him. Last November, he also scored a double and made two chances against Seychelles (9-0).
Orphaned by Wilfred Ndidi, Nigeria might console themselves with Raphael Onedika (22 years old). FC Bruges Sentinel – who moved to Midtjylland like other Nigerians (Onyeka, Onuachu, Igboun, etc.) – continues to progress in Belgium where he is a member of their team (32 matches played this season). Yet in selection, he has only 4 caps in a year. They will need to perform well as they start preparing for a 2-0 loss against Guinea.
We were talking about FC Midtjylland and the Danish club has a prolific striker in its ranks with Franculino (19 years old). The Guinea-Bissau striker, who was released from Benfica this summer, has already scored 12 goals and scored 5 goals in 19 appearances on Danish soil. A convincing start that has allowed him to find selection since September. In 3 caps, he has already scored once and intends to continue to rattle the nets during this African Cup of Nations.
Recruited at a high price by Molenbeek and loaned to Olympique Lyonnais, Ernest Nouamah (20 years old) should digest this new position (16 matches played, 1 goal and 1 donation). Showing good things in the order with Les Gons, the former Noordsjælland player is one of the new additions to Ghana’s selection. As a substitute, he has already played quite a bit with the Black Stars as he has 7 caps since June (2 goals and 1 goal).
An emerging nation on the continent, Gambia is producing more and more promising players and Yankuba Minteh (19 years old) cannot be mentioned. Loaned to Feyenoord by Newcastle United this season, the right winger has relished the role of luxury joker there (18 appearances, 4 goals and 2 goals). In selection, he should also have this role, having scored a goal during his only cap with the Gambian Scorpions.
Recruited by Chelsea this summer for 37 million euros, Nicolas Jackson (22) is having a hard time adapting (8 goals and 2 goals in 23 matches). The former Villarreal man, who played just 16 minutes during the 2022 World Cup, will have to play a more important role during this African Cup of Nations.
In the Lions of Teranga side, we could have mentioned Pape Matar Sir (21 years, Tottenham), but he won the last African Cup of Nations in February 2022. On the other hand, Lamin Camara (20 years old) needs to show himself in another context. Interesting this season with FC Metz in Ligue 1 (17 matches played, 1 goal and 2 goals), he will be one of the creative guarantors of this Senegalese atmosphere. Versatile, he shone during the 2023 African Nations Championship won by his country and will now look to do the same during this African Cup of Nations.
Still having not experienced the slightest cap with Guinea, the fascinating Conte (18 years old) could be a nice surprise. A scorer for Bestia, he has already scored 5 goals and 1 goal in 13 games with the Corsican club. A real revelation at the start of the season, he has had more trouble towards the end of 2023, but he intends to play his role as the Joker to perfection at the Scilly National.
Wilfred Nathan Doula (17 years), the youngest sensation in the Cameroonian list, will be the youngest in the competition. First called up by domestic midfielder Rigobert Song for Victoria United. It will be an opportunity for him to prove himself and why not aim for a bigger club after this competition.
He was so strong at the start of the season with Betis that FC Barcelona are in the process of bringing him back according to the Spanish press. Author of fifteen appearances with the Andalusian club, Chadi Riyad also showed that he can allow Morocco to win the trophy during the U23 CAN. Endowed with a good sense of anticipation and natural power, the 20-year-old defender should settle permanently in the middle hinge of the Atlas Lions in the coming months. Holder and on the field throughout the pre-CAN friendly against Sierra Leone, Riyad was also able to take advantage of a minor injury to Romain Seiss to settle in for the coming days in Ivory Coast.
Already at Toulouse, his talent shone last season. Versatile, Fares Chaibi is the best as a complete attacking player. Capable of scoring, scoring goals, creating gaps through passing or dribbling, the 20-year-old has inevitably caught the eye of the Bundesliga and Eintracht Frankfurt. With the current sixth from across the Rhine, the native of Lyon is already essential and has good statistics (2 goals and 9 assists in 22 games). Author of two goals with Fenex, Chaibi will certainly have a role to play in the team’s run at Belmadi, whether in midfield or on the left wing of attack.
In the wake of Patson Daka, Zambia will make a sensational appearance in Ivory Coast in the coming weeks. To do this, the chipolopolo will need a large lamak banda. The athletic 22-year-old left winger is already one of Lacy’s best players in Serie A. With 2 goals and 5 assists with the Italian club, Banda has been confused for more than one defender. Along with Zambia, the latter is gaining strength and was the author of a very convincing November rally. Could this be Lamech Banda’s birth certificate with Zambia? His coach Avram Grant must hope so.
What to say about Bilal Al Khanus? A heralded gem from Morocco for years, the 19-year-old virtuoso is already expected by many in Walid Regragui’s eleven. Certainly destined for a supersub role that suits him perfectly, the Genk midfielder has had time to see it coming with the Atlas Lions and will certainly be able to showcase all his talents in Ivory Coast. Bright with his Belgian club, who should have great difficulty keeping him in the upcoming transfer window, El Khanos is set to play a big role with Morocco in the coming years. And even if he still doesn’t shine with his family in the coming weeks, there’s a risk CAN will be on his mind at home in 2025.
Images of his quadruple in the 26th minute against Lorient before the break went around the world. Along with the breast, Kamori Doumbia warmed up well during the season. Having become more and more established as the weeks go by, the former Ramois could be one of the key players for the Breton club in the second half of the season. In the meantime, Dombia will have to perform well during CAN where Mali could be the nice surprise of the competition. For this, they will need the 20-year-old attacking midfielder as he has already scored 5 goals in 9 caps with the Eagles.
He highlighted the daily life of Union Saint-Guillois this season. While the Belgian club lost Victor Boniface this summer, the Brussels leaders managed to get their hands on Nugget Amoura. The 23-year-old Algerian has scored 17 goals in 25 appearances with the Jupiler Pro League outfit. A comet that attracts attention and desire. With Fenex, the former Lugano player is not yet an undisputed starter. Author of an interesting display when Belmadi calls upon him, the Tahir native can play in a two-man attack or on the left side of attack. A versatility that will allow him to get very interesting minutes or even starts as he has scored 5 goals in 19 selections.
Mali has a really beautiful generation. And while Kamori Doumbia has everything to become a key player in the Malian selection in the coming years, Dorgelus Nene is also one of the most promising players on African soil. Brilliant with RB Salzburg this season alongside Karim Konate of course, the 21-year-old striker has adapted well after a good season in Belgium at Westerlo. With Mali restricted to a substitute role for the moment, the Kayes native risks doing too much damage by returning after the hour mark.
With Angola, the attacking threat this season is Zito Luvumbo. Extraordinary at the forefront of attack with Cagliari, the Luanda native has scored 3 goals in 17 league games this season. With Angola still without a scorer in selection, the 21-year-old will be keen to resolve the discrepancy in Ivory Coast.
Tunisia needs to change its face after the retirement of Wahbi Khazri. And while Elias Achouri shines with Copenhagen and in selection, the Carthage Eagles benefit from another key argument at his disposal: Anis Slimane. The Sheffield United man has been quiet in the Premier League this season. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder will then be keen to get off to a good start in Ivory Coast. Appearing 31 times with Tunisia, he is one of Jalel Kadri’s strong men in any situation.
Ligue 1 followers fell in love with him last season. After six months at the highest level with FC Lorient, the Burkinabe winger crossed the channel to export his talents to Bournemouth. Impressive last season with the Cherries, the 21-year-old has not had the same success with the Premier League club this season. Like Slimane, this CAN could then provide an opportunity for this nugget to relaunch itself and rebuild the excitement during another CAN for Burkina Faso. The Stallions are counting on it.
Pub. The
Update
This is a new record that scientists from the Korea Fusion Energy Institute (KFE) have…
Damages associated with drought, floods, hail and other increasingly violent events are expected to increase…
An estimated 9 million people in the United States are still waiting for their final…
The death of seven humanitarian workers from the American NGO World Central Kitchen in an…
Today, at one o'clock in the morning, Gamer updates it Boutique de Fortnite Through the…
The Basic Instinct and Casino actress looks back at a time in Hollywood when adapting…