Explore the excitement of AFCON 2024 with our exclusive list of the Top Ten Stars to Watch Out For! From seasoned legends to emerging talents, discover the players who are set to shine on the grand stage.
Africa is ready to engage the best of footballing stars of the continent as they will converge from different top leagues in the World.
Some will come as a surprise package while others will rewrite their names in the record book of the continent.
Already, some African stars are making waves in Europe’s top leagues while others will hide on the altar of this year’s AFCON to write their names in Gold just like Nigeria’s Sunday Mbah did some years ago.
1. Yassine Bounou (Morocco)
Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has been a force in goal for his country Morocco and one of the standout performers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup that made his country become the first African side to get to a semi final of a FIFA World Cup.
Bounou 32, has been instrumental to his club Al-hilal in the Saudi Pro league keeping 16 clean sheets in just 24 games in this 2023/204 football season.
It won’t be a surprise that Bounou will shine again in Côte D’Ivoire as his experience keeps his game going better and better as days passes by.
2. André Onana (Cameroon)
Manchester United shot stopper André Onana is expected to be one of the big names in this year’s AFCON despite finding it difficult to allow his club release him.
It was announced that Onana will be in post for Man United on January 13 when they play against Tottenham Hotspur while his country play their first AFCON match on January 14 which he is now confirmed to be unavailable for that game.
The former Inter Milan man was instrumental to Inter’s Champions League journey that was ended by Champions Manchester City in 2023.
Onana kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League before his breakthrough deal at Manchester United.
Although he is facing a difficult start to life at Manchester, Onana will certainly be a big name when he finally arrives at Cameroon camp.
3. Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
The West Ham star has been a threat and a terror to many teams since his arrival this season.
Signed from Ajax by Hammers’ David Moyes, the Ghana star took Premier league league by storm with several stunning goals and match winning performances all through the season.
Ghana will have Kudus to watch out for when the tournament starts as he will be linking up with the Ayew brothers as well as Inaki Williams.
4. Ousmane Diomande, 20 (Ivory Coast)
Valued at around £69million by his club Sporting Lisbon, the 20-year-old is one of the most exciting young players in the game right now.
He has attracted interest from clubs around the Premier League, with Newcastle recently expressing an interest in the young star, while Man City and Arsenal have also been linked with him in the past.
He arrived at the Portuguese club last January from FC Midtjylland after lengthy transfer negotiations over his price, with Sporting initially offering £4.4m for the 20-year-old center-back.
And since then he has progressed at a startling rate, going on to win his first cap for Ivory Coast in September, while becoming a key part of Sporting’s squad starting in all but one of their Liga Portugal games this season.
5. Karim Konate, 19 (Ivory Coast)
One of the prospects to be watched out closely in Côte D’Ivoire is Karim Konate of RB Salzburg.
The center forward has notably scored 10 goals in 25 appearances across all competitions for the Austrian club this season and will be looking to continue his rich vein in-form in front of goal over the next month.
He is an elite finisher and with top strikers now a hard commodity to come by, there’s no doubt there will be some interest in him should he find the back of the net at the tournament.
It’s also worth noting that at the mere age of 19, he has impressively already won 11 caps and scored two goals for the national team’s senior side.
6. Pape Matar Sarr, 21 (Senegal)
Pape Sarr has been one of the revelations of the season for Spurs since the appointment of new boss Ange Postecoglou.
After struggling to break into Tottenham’s starting XI last season, the central midfielder has been given his chance under new manager Ange Postecoglou and hasn’t disappointed.
He’s risen to become a regular starter for Spurs, having made 18 appearances in the Premier League starting in 16 of those matches.
7. Sadio Mané (Senegal)
One of most-loved footballers in the continent and in the world at large due to his philanthropist gesture, giving arms to the needy and lost of things.
A star on his own, he has shown his worth both in the Premier league and Bundesliga and currently doing so in the Saudi Pro league with Al Nasr.
Sadio Mané who took Senegal to become champions in 2022 is still on top form and will take Africa by storm.
The 31-years old Mané has scored 12 goals and provided 6 assists for Al Nasr this season, making 18 goals contribution in just 26 games, behold Africa knows what is coming.
8. Mohammed Salah (Egypt)
Liverpool talisman Mo Salah will be firing on all cylinders as he seeks to claim his first AFCON trophy despite his country being the most successful in the competition’s history.
The 31-year old has lost two finals in 2017 and 2022 and will be looking to break the jinx and be crowned Champions.
Speaking to Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville on Monday Night Football after Liverpool’s win against Newcastle on New Year’s Day, he opened up what it means to play in AFCON.
‘I want to win this competition and I would love to win it,’ he said. ‘I’m sure without me [Liverpool] players will manage to win the games. We have fantastic players and quality and they just need to leave the pressure away and play football.’
He added: ‘It means a lot for me to play in the national team, you can ask [Jamie] Carragher or anyone who played for their national team. It’s a great feeling and everytime you step on the pitch you can’t take it for granted. I’m just happy to be there and playing in the tournament and I would love to win it.’
While Liverpool will certainly miss their star man, Egypt will be buoyed by his presence and ability to find the back of the net.
9. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
The Moroccan defender has been in fine form since his breakthrough from the ranks at Spanish capital Madrid.
Hakimi is one of the world’s finest right backs who can also play as a wing back, blessed with accuracy and ability to take dead ball situations.
Being instrumental to Morocco’s fairytale journey at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Hakimi will look to replicate that form and take home the converter trophy.
10. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
Africa’s best footballer of the year Victor Osimhen will be showing his worth in this year’s AFCON.
Fresh from winning the highest goalscorer in Serie A and being voted the Best player in Africa, Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen will be ready to prove he’s the best from this part of the world.
The Napoli forward will be shouldering the hopes of millions of Nigerians as they hope he can replicate his Napoli form and help his country win their Fourth AFCON title.
