'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ is just a couple of months away and the football world is already abuzz with excitement and anticipation. Among the best 32 teams in the world that are going to battle it out in for the most coveted prize in football, five representatives are from the continent of Africa - Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal and Nigeria.
The past editions of the World Cup have seen African stars like Roger Milla, Asamoah Gyan and Didier Drogba set the stage alight with their magnificent skill and flamboyance. This edition promises to be no different with the likes of Nigeria, Senegal and Egypt ready to field extremely strong squads that include some of the most sought after names in world football.
That said, here is a look at 5 African players who are expected to impress in Russia this summer.
Stats courtesy : squawka
#5 Kelechi Iheanacho
The 21 year old striker has already represented the Super Eagles 14 times at the senior level and is widely touted as one of the brightest African prospects.
He has partnered Odion Ighalo and Victor Moses to form one of the most feared offensive trios in the continent which played an integral part in Nigeria’s dominant performance in the qualifying round, where they only lost once during the entire campaign.
Though the youngster hasn’t had a fantastic season at the club level so far, his international form has been stellar of late with the striker scoring 9 times in his last 13 international appearances for Nigeria.
Keeping that in mind, it is not difficult to imagine Iheanacho putting forth a performance worth remembering when they take the field later this year.
#4 Kalidou Koulibaly
The towering central defender has had a fantastic season with Napoli and has been instrumental in the club’s charge to win their first Serie A crown in almost three decades.
He was one of the front runners in the race for becoming African Player of the Year, only to lose out to the amazing Mohamed Salah. A commanding but calm presence at the back, Koulibaly is also a threat at the other end from set pieces having scored 4 times for the club this season already.
The center back has been one of the main stays for the ‘Teranga Lions’ in the past two years, representing Senegal in the African Cup of Nations last year and playing all but one game in their World Cup Qualifying campaign.
Koulibaly is already being chased by many of the European giants and the chase will only intensify further after this summer.
#3 Sadio Mane
The winger would be eager to make amends in Russia for his penalty miss at the African Nations Cup last year that saw his side crash out of the tournament.
Much like El Hadji Diouf in 2002, Mane is expected to be the star player in Senegal’s attack in Russia. The only difference being, while Diouf’s World Cup heroics prompted Liverpool to sign him, Mane is already a first team regular at the Kop.
The 25 year old has established himself as one of the most exciting wide men, not only in the Premier League but also in the world. Though he has been injury plagued this season, Mane has still been on fire for the Reds whenever he has taken the field, scoring 14 and setting up 8 goals for others in just 29 appearances.
If he brings his best game to the World Cup, there is a possibility that Senegal might actually go way further than people’s expectations from the African nation.
#2 Alex Iwobi
The Arsenal starlet, though just 20, has already drawn comparisons to one of the all time Nigerian greats, J.J. Okocha, who incidentally happens to be his uncle.
Iwobi, who made his debut for the Super Eagles when he was 17, has quickly become one of the automatic choices in Gernot Rohr’s first eleven. The winger has not disappointed his manager either, scoring twice and setting up one goal for his country in his last four appearances for Nigeria.
Iwobi announced his arrival on the International stage in style last November, when he scored two goals in a 4-2 victory against Argentina. With his pace and dribbling skills, the winger has more than enough tools at his disposal to give opposition defenders sleepless nights this summer.
#1 Mohamed Salah
The reigning African Player of the Year, Mohamed Salah is presently playing the best football of his life.
The Liverpool playmaker has been one of the best players in the world in the past 12 months, scoring a staggered 35 goals in just 39 appearances for the Reds. Fittingly, it was his stoppage time spot kick, which ended Egypt’s 28 year old wait to once again book a place among the footballing elite.
Salah has been sensational for his country as well, scoring 33 times in 57 appearances for The Pharaohs. He has also been instrumental in Egypt’s strong performance in the recent past which also saw them reach the finals of the African Cup of Nations in 2017.
Given that Egypt seems to be in a comparatively easier group, an in-form Salah might very well see them reach the second round of the tournament for the first time in their history.
