Each sport of AFCON 2023 is reside on Sky Sports activities. Forward of the match, Sky Sports activities Information have picked out among the most enjoyable prospects within the match.
Let’s begin with the hosts who’ve determined to depart Wilfried Zaha in Turkey for the match.
IVORY COAST
Karim Konate and Ousmane Diomande
RB Salzburg have a behavior of manufacturing future Premier League forwards, with Sadio Mane and Erling Haaland each making their approach in Austria. And Salzburg may be hoping that 19-year-old Karim Konate has a quiet match to allow them to preserve maintain of him somewhat longer.
Hailing from the identical workforce in Ivory Coast as Yaya and Kolo Toure, Konate’s performances and eight objectives within the Austria Bundesliga this season recommend he has the potential to succeed just like the strikers earlier than him at RB Salzburg.
Konate’s lightning tempo and willingness to tackle gamers could have Premier League golf equipment and followers watching him carefully. Nonetheless, with Sebastian Haller more likely to lead the road, we may even see Konate making cameos from the bench. They may definitely be price searching for.
Individuals bear in mind tournaments for the nice objectives and prime goalscorers, however any workforce seeking to win the Africa Cup of Nations wants a gentle defence. It appears to be like like Ivory Coast will put their belief in 20-year-old Ousmane Diomande for that.
Hyperlinks to Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea have come after a powerful 2023 at Sporting, his third membership within the house of two years.
Diomande suits the invoice of contemporary defender: sturdy, fast and cozy on the ball. If he will get the nod forward of skilled defender Wily Boly, do not be stunned to see these hyperlinks to the Premier League get stronger and for a summer time transfer to be on the playing cards.
GUINEA
Serhou Guirassy
Guirassy’s 17 objectives within the Bundesliga for Stuttgart have seen Manchester United monitor the striker, who is obtainable for lower than €20m in January.
In a tricky group containing match favourites Senegal and Cameroon, if Guirassy can show himself as a aim scorer on the most important stage, his value will definitely make him fascinating to groups within the Premier League. In his first 4 Bundesliga matches this season, the striker netted a outstanding eight objectives from eight pictures on track.
Standing at 6ft 2in, Guirassy appears to be like a match for the Premier League, along with his penalty field ending what we’re more likely to see in Ivory Coast, which might tempt any membership struggling in entrance of aim to make a transfer for him.
Solely Harry Kane is forward of Guirassy within the Bundesliga prime scorer checklist, however do not anticipate to see the Guinean drop deep like Kane and hyperlink the play. His one help within the league is proof of Guirassy’s priorities: objectives, objectives, objectives. An harm suffered towards Nigeria in a warm-up match will not be anticipated to maintain him out.
NIGERIA
Victor Osimhen
When the day comes the place Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane grasp up their worldwide boots, it appears as if Victor Osimhen is lining himself as much as take the place because the face of African soccer.
Final season’s Serie A prime scorer would drive his approach into that sphere by main Nigeria to a primary AFCON title since 2013 and a powerful efficiency on the match definitely will not cool down hypothesis relating to his future at Napoli.
Count on all motion shows from a striker who does not have a lot lacking from his sport.
GHANA
Ernest Nuamah
If we go off the success of the Proper to Dream Academy/Nordsjaelland partnership when growing African expertise, Ernest Nuamah has a giant probability of success. A transfer to Lyon this summer time is a particular mark of success, though Lyon’s disastrous season has made it laborious for Nuamah to shine.
With Mohamed Kudus, the Ayew brothers, Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams within the ranks, Nuamah’s affect from the wing might come from the bench in the beginning of this match.
However his capability to tackle gamers will come in useful late in video games and if Ghana begin slowly, do not be stunned to see Chris Hughton flip to Nuamah.
EGYPT
Omar Marmoush
Since selecting to characterize Egypt as an alternative of Canada, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush has gone on to type a powerful private relationship with Mohamed Salah. May a powerful efficiency in Ivory Coast see Marmoush be a part of his countryman within the Premier League?
A striker by commerce, Marmoush has confirmed his versatility by enjoying all throughout the entrance line, and 6 objectives in his first ten league appearances this season present his effectiveness as a ahead. A aim and help in Eintracht’s 5-1 win over Bayern Munich present Marmoush’s capability to do it on the massive stage. He has solely just lately began to play for Egypt, which implies he’ll probably have to oust former Aston Villa participant Trezeguet to begin in Ivory Coast.
But when Marmoush brings his type in Germany to AFCON, he might nicely simply assist ship Salah’s first trophy for his nation and see requires him to hitch him in England.
SENEGAL
Ismaila Sarr and Lamine Camara
Keep in mind Ismaila Sarr? After a season within the Championship with Watford, Sarr transferred to Marseille final summer time in a return to France the place he began his skilled profession. A entrance three of Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Sarr sees match holders Senegal come into the competitors as favourites. And Sarr can present why he belongs again on the large time with a powerful exhibiting in January.
Midfielder Lamine Camara, 20, cites Idrissa Gueye as his soccer function mannequin and if he carries on in the identical style he is began his skilled profession, you may see him reaching the heights of the Everton man.
The energetic central midfielder got here via the identical youth system in Senegal as Mane and began his European profession at Metz, additionally like Mane. Camara received participant of the match as Senegal romped to victory within the U20 AFCON final 12 months.
If you have not seen his David Beckham-like aim away at Monaco from the earlier than the midway line, get your self looking on social media now – though the approach is extra Wayne Rooney vs West Ham. Camara ought to sit alongside Gueye in Senegal’s midfield and if he is not already on the radar of Premier League followers, it might be a shock if he is not by the top of this match.
BURKINA FASO
Edmond Tapsoba
Issues are going very nicely at Bayer Leverkusen this season and Edmond Tapsoba is enjoying his half in that. Tapsoba made the workforce of the match on the final Africa Cup of Nations however Leverkusen’s type this season could have the centre-back on watch much more so this time round.
Comfy on the ball with each toes, with a very good passing vary (93 per cent passing accuracy within the Bundesliga this season) and carrying capability, it is one other probability for Tapsoba to shine this January. In a bunch containing Algeria, Angola and Mauritania, Burkina Faso will fancy a late run within the competitors the place Tapsoba will probably be essential in any success.
THE GAMBIA
Yankuba Minteh
Newcastle followers will already be aware of the prospect of Yankuba Minteh. However whereas most followers tuning into Senegal vs Gambia on January 15 will probably be anticipating the joy of Sadio Mane, do not be stunned when you come away eager to see extra of Minteh.
His type at Feyenoord has seen requires Newcastle to recall him from his mortgage, however that won’t be taking place to be able to enable him to hold on his growth. His electrical tempo, eye for aim, and direct dribbling satisfied Newcastle to signal him from Danish membership OB earlier than the mortgage within the Netherlands.
He ticked the Champions League aim goal in December by scoring at Celtic Park, and with heavyweights Senegal and Cameroon in The Gambia’s group, he could have an opportunity to persuade Newcastle he is price conserving round subsequent season.