The 34th Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is set to kick off in Ivory Coast on 13 January, with the final scheduled for 11 February in Abidjan. As the highly anticipated tournament approaches, several Premier League teams will have to cope with the absence of their star players, including Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian international will be particularly motivated to lead his country to continental success after a 14-year wait. In anticipation of the Afcon, BBC Sport Africa has highlighted six players who have different reasons to make a significant impact in the tournament.
One player to watch is Mohammed Kudus from Ghana. After being Ghana’s top scorer in the qualifiers for the Nations Cup, the 23-year-old forward, who now plays for West Ham United, will aim to help Ghana regain their status as a dominant force in African football. However, they face a tough challenge right from the start as they are set to face Egypt in their opening match.
Another player with a lot to prove is Burkina Faso’s Issa Kabore. The attacking right-back was voted as the best young player at the 2021 finals, where Burkina Faso reached the semi-finals. Although he currently plays for Luton Town in the English top flight, Kabore is still awaiting his debut for reigning Premier League and European champions Manchester City. The Afcon provides him with another opportunity to showcase his talent and secure a place in Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Morocco’s Azzedine Ounahi will also be looking to make his mark on the tournament. The midfielder was an integral part of Morocco’s historic run at the 2022 World Cup, impressing with his box-to-box displays. However, a broken toe he sustained in March cut short his season with French club Marseille. Nonetheless, Ounahi’s potential return to form could be a boost for Morocco as they face tough opponents in DR Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania in Group F.
As for Mohamed Salah, he will be eager to put past disappointments behind him. Egypt’s heartbreak in the 2022 Afcon final, where they lost to Senegal, was followed by their failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. Salah, who plays for Liverpool in the Premier League, was denied a chance to take a spot-kick in the Afcon final and hopes to lead his country to redemption in the upcoming tournament.
With the Afcon just around the corner, attention will turn to these players and their potential impact on the tournament. Whether it’s Salah’s quest for continental success, Kudus and Kabore’s emergence on the international stage, or Ounahi’s return from injury, all eyes will be on Ivory Coast as Africa’s best footballing nations battle it out for glory.
In conclusion, the 34th Afcon promises to be an exciting tournament full of talent and determination. Football fans around the world will be eagerly awaiting the action to kick off in Ivory Coast, as these players and their teams aim to make their mark and etch their names in African football history.
