Young players tipped to shine in next AFCON
Ramadan Sobhi (Egypt) without doubt the brightest Egyptian talent of his generation, a whole host of clubs across Europe were linked with signing Sobhi this summer before Mark Hughes spent £3.5m to take him to English Premier League side Stoke City from Al-Ahly.
He has been integrated slowly into the Potters team this term, featuring only four times in the Premier League but he is certainly progressing well after being handed his first start against West Ham prior to the international break.
A skilful and direct winger with an excellent eye for a pass, Sobhi has already become a key member for the national team, scoring a crucial goal against Nigeria in March to help his team qualify for the upcoming African Nations Cup and played a huge role as the Pharaohs reached the final in Gabon.
Pundits believe by the time the next AFCON comes around, the Egyptian would have hit top form for club and country which will make him one of the stars of the show in Cameroun.
Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria) The three time AFCON champions’ inability to qualify for Gabon was greatly disappointing for many fans across Africa partly because the continent was stopped from witnessing at close range the massive
The 2017 African Cup of Nations has come and gone with the indomitable Lions of Cameroon clinching their fifth continental crown. The next tournament is billed for 2019 and here are the young, talented players expected to replace Vincent Aboubacar, Benjamin Moukondjo and Sadio Mane as stars of the next event in Central Africa.
talent at the disposal of this player.
Currently has the best ratio of any striker that has ever played in the English Premier League beating the likes of Thierry Henry and Michael Owen when it comes to the first 500 minutes of action in the top flight.
His goal and assist for Manchester City in the derby win over United in September was immense and it catapulted him into one of the players to reckon with in the scheme of things.
Nigeria is expected to make the next tournament after failures in the last two which makes the prospect of watching Iheanacho at close range mouthwatering for lots of African football fans. Franck Kessié (Ivory Coast) Juventus, Manchester United, Arsenal, Barcelona, the defensive midfielder, 19, has already interested some of the greatest clubs. Meanwhile, he is wearing Atalanta’s jersey after a year on loan in Cesena.
He’s used to jumping the gun: he earned his first international cap in 2014 while he was only 17 years old. Described by many as heir of Yaya Touré’s position, his characteristics are slightly different though. Franck Kessié is more powerful, closer to Wilfried Bony, but he shares with Ivory Coast’s former captain an ability to score goals.
As he continues to make quick progression in both the Ivorian national team and Atalanta, the next two years will bring out the best in the player and considering the fact that the Elephants put out a disappointing defence of the AFCON title they won in 2015 in Gabon, this player will want to make an impact in Cameroon.
Keita Balde Diao (Senegal) Kicked out of Barcelona’s youth team, Diao has gradually reinvigorated his career with Lazio following his €300,000 move to Italy in the summer of 2011.
The 21-year-old broke into the first team with a series of exciting individual displays in the 2013-14 campaign, but it wasn’t until this term that he nailed down a regular starting place.
In the recently concluded AFCON tournament in Gabon, he was without doubt one of the most lethal of the Senegalese players alongside Liverpool forward Sadio Mane.
They both combined to terrorise defences before their outser against eventual winners Cameroon in a penalty shootout.
With a potent blend of raw pace and remarkable dribbling skill, the Senegal international is tricky for defenders in one-on-one situations. In two years’ time Diao will be a more experienced player and defenders at the next AFCON will want to avoid him at all cost.