The 34th edition of the CAF TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations is set to kick off this Saturday in Côte d’Ivoire.
As in previous editions, several teams have chosen to include emerging stars and young players who will have the opportunity to showcase their talents on the world stage.
Ahead of AFCON 2023, we’ve picked out five players to keep an eye on in Ivory Coast.
Victor Boniface (Nigeria)
Nigeria has a lot of stars to depend on, as they surely have one of the most formidable squads in the tournament. Many of you might only be aware of Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, and Samuel Chukwueze, but Victor Boniface is one emerging star you should look out for.
Since signing for the German side Bayer Leverkusen from Union Saint-Gilloise in the summer, Boniface has been an instant hit, scoring 16 goals and providing eight assists in 23 appearances in all competitions.
Leverkusen remains unbeaten at the turn of the new year. His only issue for Nigeria may be game time, as the 23-year-old made his debut for Nigeria in September and has since won five caps without scoring.
Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
The skilful West Ham attacker can slot in anywhere across the middle of the pitch or forward line, making him a vital member of the Ghana team.
The 24-year-old possesses close ball control, an eye for the killer pass, and an ability to find the net. With Arsenal star Thomas Partey out of the Black Stars squad due to injury, Kudus is set to take center stage as he looks to link up with star forwards Inaki Williams and the Ayew brothers Jordan and Andre.
Patson Daka (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. He is the kind of player Zambia will have to rely on for goals.
Omar Marmoush (Egypt)
When you think of Egyptian star attackers, it’s obvious that many will only focus on Mo Salah, but let’s tell you that Omar Marmoush’s name must also be thought about.
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 Mo Salah makes Egypt’s attack one of the most dangerous on paper, heading into the tournament.
Serhou Guirassy (Guinea)
Guinea international Serhou Guirassy is one of the most in-demand players in world football. A stunning start to the season has seen the Stuttgart striker catapult himself onto the transfer wish list of leading clubs across Europe.
Guirassy’s goals have fired Stuttgart into Champions League contention after two seasons battling relegation, with only Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe having outscored the 27-year-old across Europe’s top five leagues.
Guirassy has scored 17 goals in 14 league appearances and will hope to transfer that form onto the international stage, as Guinea faces Senegal, Cameroon, and Gambia in a challenging group.
The forward represented France up to the U-20 level before declaring for the country of his parents. He has scored three goals for Guinea since his debut in 2022.