We are really looking forward to AFCON 2023 at BestBlogAbout and can’t wait for the tournament, held in the Ivory Coast to get started. Here’s our list of players we feel are the ones to watch out for.

Serhou Guirassy – Guinea

Date of birth: 12 March 1996 (age 27)

Place of birth: Aries, France

Height: 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)

Foot: Right

Position(s): Striker

Club: VfB Stuggart

Serhou Guirassy’s form for his club side VfB Stuggart has been phenomenal this season. After joining the German club permenately from Rennes after a successful loan spell last season, he has improved from his goal record of 11 goals in 22 appearances, taking the Bundesliga by storm with an impressive 17 goals in 11 appearances so far.

He is a classic Centre Forward. He is able to hold up the ball and bring his team-mates in to play and his excellent passing and vision comes to the fold. However, its his predatory instincts in front of goal is what makes him one of the hottest prospects in European football.

He is a deadly finisher with a powerful long strike outside the box, an aerial threat as well as ability to make smart runs in to the box. In a nutshell, he has the perfect all around game.

Victor Osimhen – Nigeria

Date of birth: 29 December 1998 (age 26)

Place of birth: Lagos, Nigeria

Height: 1.85m

Foot: Right

Position(s): Striker

Club: Napoli

Victor Osimhen goes into AFCON 2023 as one of the biggest African stars in Europe. The much coveted strker has built his reputation at Napoli under Luciano Spalletti’s reign and has an amazing goal record for the club scoring 57 goals and 96 appearances. His striking prowess has been fundamental in Napoli’s resurgence, winning the Scudetto in2022/23 and reaching the Quarter- Finals of the Champions league for the first time, making him a cult hero amongst Neapolitan football fanatics.

He is known for his phyiscal qualities of strentgh, athleticism and presence but also for his ability to link up his team in wide and central areas and of course his natural gift of scoring goals. He has excellent technical ability too, able to shoot off both feet and produce magical dribbles and footwork.

He is one of the modern heroes for Nigerian football as he was part of the winning team of the U-17 World Cupin 2015 scoring 10 goals in 7 games and winning Player of the Tournament prize. He also has a ridiculous record for the senior team scoring 20 goals in 27 appearances. Osimhen recently signed a new contract at Napoli but I have no doubt it will be his last one. Several top clubs are scouting him and its just a matter of time before we see him appearing for another elite team. 

Mohamed Salah – Egypt

Date of birth: 15 June 1992 (age 31)

Place of birth: Nagrig, Basyoun, Egypt

Height: 1.75m

Foot: Left

Position(s): Winger, Striker

Club: Liverpool

Salah is one of the most decorated footballers in the tournament but has yet to receive an AFCON winners medal. He will be highly motivated to put that right as he is adorned in his homeland and arguably their greatest ever footballer. If he achieves his dream, he will surpass a hundred International caps, but wont catch the all-time record of 184 caps by Ahmed Hassan.

On his day he can destroy defences with his outstanding pace and dribbling ability. He plays more centrally for Egypt, but has a free role and tends to be the focal point of their attack. He has the ability to bring people into play but will be Egypt’s main attacking threat and they will depend on him to supply his team-mates with opportunities, as well as take set pieces and penalties for “The Pharaohs”.

With Liverpool at the summit in title hunt for the Premier League title, Jurgen Klopp will hope he is not missed too much and comes back in good health. Salah has not been able to play in the World Cup without injury, so there’s no doubt he will give his all for his country.

He is still in demand as a footballing commodity and this looks likely to be his last year at Liverpool, so he will want 2024 to be a top year for him for club and country. He is definitely one to watch in this tournament, and hopefully he will have a strong supporting cast around him to enable Egypt to go all the way and add to their record 6 AFCON titles.

Mohammed Kudus – Ghana

Date of birth: 2 August 2000 (age 23)

Place of birth: Nima, Ghana

Height: 1.75 m

Foot: Left

Position(s): Midfielder, Winger, Striker

Club: West Ham United

Spear-heading a new generation of Ghanaian footballers, Mohammed Kudus is one of the best young talents in Africa. Establishing his career at Ajax, he has taken the Premier League by storm and appears to have become West Ham’s main threat in just 10 or so matches at the halfway mark of season.

He can play as a Winger, Attacking Midfielder or Striker and will more than likely play centrally, given Ghana’s options in wide attacking positions. However,  he will have freedom to roam and play in the pockets in between the lines. He possesses excellent finishing ability but is known mainly for his dribbling ability, beating players with ease and drawing fouls or using his strength to progress into the box.

AFCON 2023 will be his first AFCON senior tournament and Kudus will be looking to establish himself again on the world scene after scoring two goals for Ghana in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Ghana will go into the tournament with one of the strongest squads and are many people’s favourites. If Kudus has at outstanding tournament, you can expect his club West Ham to propose a new contract for him to further secure his services and boost his valuation in case suitors approach.

Ismael Bennacer – Algeria

Date of birth: 1 December 1997 (age 26)

Place of birth: Aries, France

Height: 1.75 m

Foot: Left

Position(s): Midfielder

Club: AC Milan

Ismael Bennacer is one of the best examples of a modern midfielder, possessing the ability to play as a deep lying play maker or as an attacking play maker. He is celebrated for his passing ability and vision, ability to break up play but is also a technician who can dribble and manipulate the ball to keep and maintain possession.

Bennacer’s arrival to AC Milan from Empoli in 2019 was influential in the Rossenori rebuilding, resulting in the club establishing themselves as a top 3 side, finishing as runners up in 2020-21 and winning the league in 2021-2022. In the 2019 AFCON edition was where in cemented his reputation, building from his good league performances to star in the tournament where he received a winners medal with Algeria and also achieving 3 personal accolades; Top Assists in the tournaments, Best Young player and Player of the Tournament.

Algeria has a really strong squad and given their success in 2019 and maintaining the majority of the sqaud, they will be amongst the favourite for AFCON 2023. They have sensational attacking options but for them to go deep in the tournament, they will require Bennacer to be fit so he can control and dictate the tempo and rhythm for Algeria to show their quality and maximise their undoubted potential.

Amir Richardson – Morocco

Date of birth: 24 January 2002 (age 21)

Place of birth: Nice, France

Height: 1.97 m

Foot: Left

Position(s): Midfielder

Club: Reims

Whilst he may not has been a name many would have heard of, Amir Richardson has had a rapid rise in the last 12 months, receiving a call up to Morocco U23 squad for last years U23 AFCON where he put in some impressive performances and helped his country to their first title.

He is a quite a striking footballer as he stands at 6ft and 6 inches (1.97m) but possess excellent ball control and agility for someone so tall. His is a very dynamic athlete during a match, showing quick bursts of pace and high energy levels. He gets his athletic talent arguably from his Father, who was a professional Basketball player which probably explains his height! Perhaps it also explains is all round game being so strong; Blessed with outstanding technical ability, he is really effective when he has to defend for his team making inceptions and tackles and also is equally skilled in possession with the ability to play-make in deep or advanced positions.

It is unlikely he will start for Morocco as the core of their team from the 2022 FIFA World Cup features in this squad, so expect him to get some minutes of the bench in the group stage to gain experience. He may have an important impact judging by his performances in Ligue 1 this season as someone who can add presence in midfield to control or change a match.

Sadio Mane – Senegal

Date of birth: 10 April 1992 (age 31)

Place of birth: Bambali, Senegal

Height: 1.74 m

Foot: Right

Position(s): Striker

Club: Al-Nassr

Senegal are the current AFCON champions and will be going into this tournament with a belief that the can win two AFCON’s in a row. Much of that is due to their inspirational captain Sadio Mane. As captain and talisman for his country, his leadership by example and deeds have helped Senegal’s resurgence as one of Africa top footballing nations.

He can play all across the front line or even as an number 10, but his main threats will come from his dribbling and deadly finishing. He is very much known and appreciated for his commitment to pressing and his pursuit to turnover the ball when his team is out of possession. He creates chances for his team mates and has a really good eye for a pass, something which Mohamed Salah benefitted from during their time at Liverpool and Cristiano Ronaldo is now appreciating as a team mate at Al Nassr.

Unfortunately for Mane, he was injured and therefore missed the last World Cup, so he also has an extra motivation to cement his place as one of his countries greatest players by helping to create history in retaining the title.

Vincent Aboubacar – Cameroon

Date of birth:  22 January 1992 (age 31)

Place of birth: Garoua, Cameroon

Height: 1.84 m

Foot: Right

Position(s): Striker

Club: Besiktas

As the main goalscorer for Cameroon, Aboubakar is a talented and versatile striker who can be a valuable asset to any team. His strengths in physicality, pace, and finishing make him a dangerous threat in the box, while his ability to link up play adds another dimension to his game.

He had great experience and is currently plying his trade in Turkey, playing for the 3rd biggest club Besiktas. He has recently been subject of some controversy there, so no doubt he will be looking forward to playing again for the Indomitable Lions. He famously made way for Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr last season, despite finishing top scorer for the Saudi club.

He made a real impression at the Last World Cup in Qatar, scoring a winning header against Brazil and in the match before and he scored one of the great World Cup goals against Serbia, with an audacious scoop chip over the keeper after sending the recovering defender for a loaf of bread with a perfect feint. He is definitely someone who is a major star in this tournament and lots of attention with be paid to him by his opponents and football fans alike.

Simon Adingra – Ivory Coast

Date of birth: 1 January 2002 (age 22)

Place of birth: Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast

Height: 1.75 m

Foot: Right

Position(s): Winger

Club: Brighton and Hove Albion

A another focus on a second rising star in this tournament, this time featuring Ivory Coast forward Simon Adingra. The Brighton winger emerged this season making the starting eleven for the Seagulls and has been really well received by the supporters at Falmer Stadium in a short space of time.

He is a quick, agile and tricky winger who like to drift into central areas off the wing and can shoot off either foot. He is also a player who has a good short passing game, working triangles and has really good off the ball movement always looking for a ‘one-two’ to break away from defenders.

He appears to have made the squad at the expense of Wilfried Zaha so maybe that’s a strong indication that he will not play a pivotal part in the tournament and will be there to mainly gain experience. There is a chance he will appear in the tournament as a game changer option particularly if a goal is needed, but does have the qualities to force his way in the first eleven as the tournament progress. If called upon, Adingra will be ready.

Dango Ouattara – Burkina Faso

Date of birth: 11 February 2002 (age 21)

Place of birth: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Height: 1.77 m

Foot: Left

Position(s): Winger

Club: AFC Bournemouth

Dango Ouattara made waves at Lorient before heading to Bournemouth in the Premier League. Though still a diamond in the rough, the young winger holds immense potential. Under Manager Andres Iraola, he has the chance to hone his skills and become a more consistent force.

A natural on both wings, Ouattara favors the right, where he can unleash his powerful left foot after cutting inside. This Burkina Faso international boasts explosive pace and the ability to leave defenders in his dust with a drop of the shoulder or a searing run. A big feature of his game is passing. He possesses a good short passing game as you might expect from a winger but can open up teams with his longer passing range.

On the international stage, Ouattara shines. His impressive record of 7 goals in 17 appearances speaks volumes. This AFCON tournament could be his coming-of-age party. Despite not yet finding his rhythm in the Premier League, he can silence doubters and prove to Bournemouth fans that he’s built for the big moments.

So, what do you think? Who do you think we should have mentioned ? Who are you backing to win the tournament? Let us know in the comments below.

M.R