3 Amadou HAIDARA

MALI

Haidara took a while to find his feet at RB Leipzig after moving from satellite club Salzburg but is now rated as a top Bundesliga midfielder.

His start in Germany, after a €19 million move, was hindered by a cruciate ligament injury but last season he got regular game time and is now a significant fixture in the Leipzig line-up, where he took over the No.8 shirt previously worn by African compatriot Naby Keita.

There have also been three successive Champions League campaigns to confirm his potential.

The 23-year-old will be important to Mali’s hopes of advancing past the opening round of the tournament in Cameroon, where they will fancy their chances after going unbeaten in the recent World Cup qualifying campaign.