The African Cup of Nations is all set to kick off in Gabon from January 14th, with squads called up for all sixteen contenders. There have been some surprises such as Benik Afobe rejecting a call-up to DR Congo in favour of playing for Bournemouth, Emmanuel Adebayor making a U-turn on his statements that he might not participate in the tournament, and Wilfried Zaha being called up to the Ivory Coast national team having made 2 appearances for England in friendlies.
Also read: 5 players who will dominate African Cup of Nations
Here we take a look at five surprise packages that could have a major impact on the tournament:
#5 Ramadan Sobhi – Egypt (Stoke City)
Having played at the U-17, U-20, U-23 and senior levels for Egypt as well as serial champions Al Ahly, 19-year-old Sobhi can scarcely be considered an unknown quantity to the followers of Egyptian football.
Having made his debut for Al Ahly at the age of 16, he made 55 appearances for them across three seasons, contributing to 2 league titles and 2 domestic cups. His attractive style of play, willingness to take on defenders and an eye for goal have seen several comparisons being made to Mohamed Aboutrika – one of Egypt’s all-time greats.
While his chances of making the starting XI for the tournament’s most successful team might not be the brightest, his winning goal against Nigeria in the qualifiers is sure to get him some run-outs as a substitute against tiring opposition. Those might just be the perfect conditions for him to shine.
#4) Samuel Tetteh – Ghana (FC Liefering)
20-year-old Tetteh, who currently plays as a forward at Austrian club Liefering, has been named as a midfield selection for the Ghanaian national squad by Avram Grant. This is an interesting move, and although Ghana certainly doesn’t lack goalscoring midfielders – Newcastle’s Christian Atsu a prime example – Tetteh’s 10 goals in 20 club appearances this season are sure to get him some playing time behind the strikers.
The Black Stars have not won the Cup of Nations since 1982 and will be looking at a fresh injection of talent to pull them over the line. Tetteh would do well to seize the opportunity with both feet.
#3) Farouk Miya – Uganda (Standard Liege)
Already adored by his national team fans, 19-year-old Miya is a clinical finisher who has made 25 appearances for the Ugandan national team. He scored the goal that gave his side a 1–0 win over Comoros and their first entry into the tournament since 1978.
After scoring an impressive 20 goals in 49 club appearances for Vipers and helping them win the league title in 2015, Belgian club Standard Liege signed him up on a loan deal that was immediately converted into a permanent move after he scored on debut. Tagged with the nickname “Muyizi Tasubwa” – a hunter who cannot miss, his 14 goals for the Cranes is sure to give him plenty of minutes on the pitch as he carries the team’s hopes.
#2) Franck Kessie – Ivory Coast (Atalanta)
One of the most exciting young talents in football, not just the Cup of Nations, 20-year-old Kessie’s star continues to rise with every passing season. An emphatic midfielder, who loves to dribble with the ball at his feet and beat opposition players as much as he enjoys using his strength to break up attacks, his goalscoring exploits make him a complete package.
This season alone, he has netted 7 in 17 appearances for his club, prompting transfer speculation from Newcastle to Inter Milan and many others in between. Definitely, a sparkling talent to watch out for, Kessie could rise higher in the footballing ranks with his national squad who he debuted for at the age of 17.
#1) Elia Meschak – DR Congo (TP Mazembe)
20-year-old Meschak burst on to the scene in the best way possible way by becoming the tournament’s joint top scorer at the 2016 African Nations Championship, helping his side to the title with a brace in the finals against Mali.
His side will be hoping he can repeat that magic at the Cup of Nations – a tournament they haven’t won since 1974 – especially since they’re in the same group as Ivory Coast and Togo, with Morocco completing the set. With expectations high, and a player who’s known for his belief in his abilities, the stage seems set for some fireworks.
