We are now just a few days away as Cote d'Ivoire is ready to host the thirty-fourth edition of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) starting on 13 January to February 11.
Here, KickGH's Pascal Amoah has picked out 3 of the players he's expecting to stand out in this dry season at the tournament in Cote d'Ivoire as they look set to announce themselves once more on the international stage.
Percy Tau (South Africa, 29)
One of the best forwards in the men's game, Percy Tau will be the main man for South Africa's right-wing position at the AFCON 2023.
Tau - who has featured in 32 games and scored 13 quality goals for Bafana Bafana - will shoulder the burden of supplying all the much-needed balls from the right-wings.
The 29-year-old winger is a star of Egyptian club giants Al Ahly under the coaching of Marcel Koller, and the silky playmaker will take some quality into this tournament for the Bafana Bafana.
Tau, has spoken about Bafana Bafana ultimate goals in the continental showpiece they last won in 1996.
“Even the last time I went to AFCON in Egypt, we wanted to compete and try our best to go all the way, that has not changed even now."
“But people have different opinions about the process we’re in because they say this based on missing out on the last [AFCON]. So we understand that but we want to go all the way.”
Yves Bissouma (Mali, 27)
The defensive midfielder who joined Tottenham Hotspur from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022 is now beginning to emerge as one of the best lynchpin in the English Premier League.
Coach Éric Chelle will greatly weave-him in his starting lineups in the tournament, as none of the teams in Group E—South Africa, Tunisia, and Namibia—can be taken lightly.
Bissouma, the Eagles starman has a wealth of experience under his sleeves - playing at the highest level, so a dependable midfielder could be their trump card as he will be the chief supplier of balls from the back to the forwards of the team.
Born in the Ivory Coast and moving to Mali aged 13 to pursue a professional football career. Bissouma participated at the 2016 African Nations Championship in Rwanda with Mali. In the semi-final against the Ivory Coast, he was brought on as a substitute in the 76th minute and scored the only goal of the game, in the 89th minute. They went on to lose in the final against DR Congo.
He has made seven appearances and scored one goal in the continental showpiece. The 27-year-old will bring his expertise on board, as this will be his third major competition for Mali, having also previously featured in the 2016 and 2021 editions of the AFCON.
Bissouma hopes to up his game and contribute greatly as the Eagles of Mali seek to progress further from the group stage.
Peter Shalulile (Namibia, 30)
Peter Shalulile promises to receive plenty of attention as he is at the prime of his career with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
Fresh from lifting the inaugural African Football League and currently a key member of the team’s chase for a second TotalEnergies CAF Champions League gold medal.
The 30-year-old is a technically gifted striker who is brave upfront, making him a real heachache for defenders with his quick, intelligent passing and possession abilities which makes him a potentially raw finisher.
Shalulile will be a decisive impact in the box for the Brave Warriors of Namibia in Cote d’Ivoire.
By: Pascal Amoah
Follow me on Twitter: @NiiAmoah
