Everyone is talking about the Australian Open and the controversy surrounding Novak Djokovic. Amid the din the buzz surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) somehow got lost. But come January 9, the focus will definitely shift to the tournament in Cameroon that promises pulsating action and the clash between several giants. Several competitive teams are featuring in the Cup but Senegal and the ruling champions Algeria come across as the tough nuts to crack. As the curtain lifts gradually from the championship, let us concentrate on the players who can set the grounds on fire.
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Mohamed Salah
Rankings can be very deceptive. It is a mystery as to how Salah finished seventh in the Ballon d’Or despite being a prolific scorer for Liverpool. This season he has scored 54 goals for the club so far and Jurgen Klopp’s team will miss him dearly when Salah leaves it for the AFCON. He will be the chief source of headache for the opposition in a side packed with local talents. If Egypt want their eighth African crown, then Salah’s performance is going to be extremely critical.
Achraf Hakimi
The 23-year-old right-back Hakimi, born and brought up in Madrid to Moroccan parents, is a vital component in the PSG side as the fiercest attacking full-back in the whole universe. So, as the teams brace to cross swords with Morocco they need to be wary of Hakimi’s magical feet. Hakimi became an important member of the Paris club last July for 60 million euros ($71 million) and, despite being a defender, is a true-blue attacking player from the word go.
Riyad Mahrez
Yet another winner of African footballer of the year in the past, Mahrez led Algeria excellently to win the crown in 2019. In their title defence this time Mahrez’s impactful display will yet again be vital. He has had a good season with Manchester City so far, where he found the net 13 times in 25 games. The 30-year-old who grew up in the Paris suburbs, Algeria happens to be the place of birth of his late father. His first international appearance happened just before the 2014 World Cup, and since then, he has not looked back.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
It is not easy to stand out in a team having superstars such as Neymar and Mbappe but that is what Choup-Moting did during his stint with the PSG. He found the net 17 times in 44 appearances for the Paris club before moving to Bayern Munich in 2020. The Germany-born player is a vital cog in the wheel of the Cameroon side, having represented them in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. He has even led the side in AFCON in 2015 and he is definitely a player to watch out for in the tournament.
Sadio Mane
As per FIFA rankings, Senegal is the numero uno African side and they owe the same, in no small measure, to Liverpool’s star striker. The past winner of the African Footballer of the Year award had even finished fourth in the 2019 Ballon d’Or list. For Liverpool, Mane leaves behind a temporary but huge void as he takes up his national duties after scoring 10 goals this season for the club. Also, for the 29-year-old this African honour is critical because his side went down to Algeria last time (2019) and he will be desperate to make it happen for Senegal in 2022.
