We may additionally simplest be per week into 2022, but the first foremost international soccer event of the year is on the horizon, with the Africa Cup of Nations kicking off on Sunday.
It's been a long term coming as well – it became to begin with because of take place in June and July 2021 but become introduced ahead to January 2021 due to worries approximately the weather. It then had to be driven returned a yr due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Of route, fanatics and teams have needed to placed up with the usual posturing from those at certain clubs concerning the inconvenience of relinquishing players within the center of the season, but despite that there stays a wholesome choice of massive names.
In reality, given the usual the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez and Achraf Hakimi generally play at, a few would possibly even argue that is one of the maximum-satisfactory groups of gamers to characteristic at a unmarried AFCON.
But the splendor of every worldwide event is that there may be extra to them than the massive names – there are plenty of promising more youthful players looking to impress for a international target market.
Kamaldeen Sulemana, 19, winger – Ghana
Hold on for your seats! Kamaldeen is certain to ramp up the pleasure at AFCON, such is his as a substitute chaotic method to attacking – and acrobatic birthday celebration. The teenage winger is immensely intricate and agile, along with his 246 take-on tries within the 2020-21 Danish Superliga almost twice as many as every body else – to put that into context, most effective Lionel Messi managed more (261) inside the pinnacle 5 leagues. He's carried that into Ligue 1 following his flow to Rennes, along with his average of 1 shot involvements from a ball deliver each 43 minutes being the second best in Ligue 1 (min. 900 minutes played) after Kylian Mbappe – that's obviously pretty proper.
Ibrahim Sangare, 24, defensive midfielder – Ivory Coast
While precise performances at AFCON alone might not be sufficient for players to persuade large clubs they're well worth a punt on, displaying promise might just get some greater eyes on them. Sangare is certainly considered one of people who may want to put himself 'in the shop window'. The PSV midfielder has a lot approximately him, in particular when it comes to protecting. In this season's Eredivisie, best three players (at least 500 mins played) have averaged more than his 3.4 tackles in step with 90 mins, whilst he ranks fifth for interceptions frequency (2.5) and 0.33 for middle-1/3 recoveries (5.7). He's additionally technically gifted and glad at the ball, with most effective 3 players attempting extra passes (eighty one.1) on a in step with-ninety-minute foundation than him.
Hannibal Mejbri, 18, attacking midfielder – Tunisia
