The African cup of nations has acted as a springboard in various young players careers over the years, players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ismael Bennacer have benefited from it and now it’s time for the next generation to step up.
Below are Five players who are aged 23 and below that are expected to shine at the AFCON 2022 competition.
1. Victor Osimhen – Nigeria
Age: 23
Position: Striker
Club: Napoli
There was a lot of doubt as to whether Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen would make this winter’s AFCON due to injury, but a miraculous recovery from the forward has boosted his country’s chances of winning the tournament.
Osimhen was in exceptional form upfront for Luciano Spalleti’s Napoli, scoring nine goals in 14 games for the Partenopei before his injury, including four goals in 3 Europa league outings.
Fast, strong and possessing an amazing leap, Osimhen will be hoping to copy the likes of Didier Drogba and Aubameyang buy banging in goals at the AFCON.
Victor Osimhen
2. Edmond Tapsoba – Burkina Faso
Age: 22
Position: Defender
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Burkina Faso might have never participated in the World Cup and due to this a lot of people might have never heard of them but they love the African Cup Of Nations.
Burkina Faso hosted the 1998 AFCON and reached the semi finals before going further by playing in the 2013 final but lost 1-0 to Nigeria.
At 6ft 4in., Edmond Tapsoba is a dominant center back force in the back line and also possesses a great deal of pace. The 22 year old has been linked to Chelsea and Arsenal in the past and the AFCON could be his chance to seal and big money move in 2022.
Edmond Tapsoba
3. Achraf Hakimi – Morocco
Age: 23
Position: Defender
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Achraf Hakimi may be 23 years old but he is already a household name that has featured for clubs like Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and currently Paris Saint-Germain.
He was named in the continent’s team of 2021 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.
The defender is just as good going forwards as he is defensively with three goals and three assists in France’s top flight this season.
Achraf Hakimi
4. Samuel Chukwueze – Nigeria
Age: 22
Position: Winger
Club: Villarreal
Chukwueze suffered a serious knee injury during the return leg in London but has returned in time for AFCON and is starting to get back to his best.
The 22 year old winger can beat any defender in the game with some great trickery in his locker room and a move to the premier league appears inevitable for the Nigerian.
Arsenal tried to sign the winger before he picked Villarreal because the player’s management team thought it better Chukwueze went to Spain.
Now he has one AFCON campaign under his belt and 100 laliga appearances at the age of 22, this boy is just getting started.
Samuel Chukwueze
5. Abde Ezzalzouli – Morocco
Age: 20
Position: Winger
Club: Barcelona
This will be Abde Ezzalzoui’s first Africa Cup Of Nations but the winger has enjoyed a fair share of firsts in recent months.
He became the first Moroccan player to feature for Barcelona when he made his first team debut for the Catalans in October.
Under new boss Xavi, Abde has become almost a key player on the wing as the Barcelona coach turns to youth in his first half season at the camp nou.
The 20 year old then found the net for the first time at Barcelona in the Club’s 2-2 draw at Osasuna, showing that he is more than capable of delivering on the biggest stage.
. Abde Ezzalzouli
