Which young players could star at 2023 Africa Cup of Nations?

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finally gets underway this weekend after being delayed from last summer due to concerns over weather conditions in host country Ivory Coast.

Bringing together 24 of the continent's best men's national teams, the tournament will begin on January 13 and end on February 11. But who are the young players under the age of 23 that you should watch?

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Odilon Kossounou, 23 years old, CB, Bayer Leverkusen – Ivory Coast

Scouts heading to Ivory Coast will no doubt track down the home country's defensive colossus. Considered by many to be the best defender in the German Bundesliga this season, as Leverkusen dominated proceedings, Kossounou has taken his game to a new level.

While his defensive qualities have never been in doubt, the young defender has radically improved his distribution and, having adapted well to coach Xabi Alonso's defensive trio, the 6ft 3in central defender has also taken habit of intensifying his possession of the ball. , often carrying him past the first line of pressure in the process (1.90 progressive runs per 90 minutes.)

Leverkusen will surely see plenty of interest in signing the former Club Brugge defender over the coming months.

Salis Abdul Samed, 23 years old, DM, Lens – Ghana

Abdul Samed has become a key player for club and country (especially with Thomas Partey absent through injury) over the past year. The defensive midfielder is exceptionally disciplined, takes the ball, presses the opponent and moves the ball quickly and deliberately.

He is now in his third season as a starter in Ligue 1. When Abdul Samed is not in the team, it is clear that the midfield structure suffers. With his incessant movement off the ball, he always offers passing options and thrills his teams.

Mohamed Amoura, 23 years old, FW, Union St.-Gilloise – Algeria

One of the revelations of the Belgian championship since his transfer of 4 million euros from the Swiss club Lugano this summer. Despite primarily playing as a left winger (he can also feature as a “false No.9”) and not taking penalties, Amoura has scored 12 league goals this season. Indeed, he has found the net seven times in the last seven matches, including one against Liverpool in the 2-1 victory in the Europa League.

Boasting a low center of gravity and an astonishing change of pace, Amoura poses a significant threat when winning the ball in positions wide to the left, where he can take on defenders or hit an early shot.

An excellent dribbler (5.7 progressive runs per 90 minutes), he makes energetic runs with the ball and constantly presents himself in dangerous areas (illustrated by an astonishing 8.6 touches in the opponent's box per 90 minutes).

Lameck Banda, 22 years old, FW, Lecce – Zambia

Having played in Russia and Israel, the speedy left winger is starting to make a positive impression in Serie A. Arguably at his best in the transition phase of the game, Banda's combination of high speed running, excellent ball carrying and unpredictable dribbling patterns make him a formidable force on the break.

Despite only being 5ft 7in tall, the Zambian international possesses impressive upper body strength, making him difficult to knock off balance and forcing opponents to double-team to mark or stop him through illegal means .

Although he is most effective when switching from the left to the right foot, Banda is also a good crosser of the ball, usually targeting the area between the goalkeeper and the penalty spot with tantalizing swings.

Lamine Camara, 20 years old, CM, Metz – Senegal

Named Young African Player of the Year in 2023, Camara is an industrious midfielder with exceptional stamina and work ethic. But it's not just about industry, graft or determination for the 20-year-old: at the end of October he scored one of the Ligue 1 goals of the season when he spotted the Monaco goalkeeper off his line and by spectacularly unleashing a shot from inside his own. half.

Camara has played a pivotal role in the success of Senegal's youth teams in recent years, and big things are expected of him as he builds his career in European football.

Bilal El Khannouss, 19 years old, CM, Genk – Morocco

Dominant central midfielder who can play as a No.8 or No.10. Considered by many to be the next Moroccan superstar, El Khannouss switched allegiances after playing for the Belgian youth teams and much was expected of him.

Extremely talented player – the variation and accuracy of his forward passes is of a high standard – he is also disciplined enough to drop back, press and regain possession through tackles (2+ successful tackles per 90 minutes.)

El Khannouss has reportedly been monitored by big Premier League clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester United, and when the 19-year-old finally leaves Belgian football, the fee will likely surpass the record transfer fee of €36.5 million paid by AC Milan to recruit Charles. From Ketelaere in 2022.

Kamory Doumbia, 20 years old, AM, Brest (on loan from Reims) – Mali

While Doumbia's career may not have fully taken off yet, he is one of the most in-form players at the tournament. The 20-year-old ended his Ligue 1 season with four first-half goals in Brest's 4-0 home win over Lorient before being sent off after an hour. Additionally, he has scored four goals for his country in the last four competitive international matches.

While he is still looking to find consistency, the energetic attacking midfielder is more than capable of making an immediate impact from the bench.

Karim Konaté, 19 years old, A., FC Salzburg – Ivory Coast

Unusually for an Africa-based teenager, Konaté attracted huge interest from European clubs at the age of 16 after outstanding performances for ASEC Mimosas in his home country. Ultimately, Salzburg had to fend off competition from several other European clubs to sign the striker in a €3.5 million deal in July 2022.

Based on his first year and a half in Austria, there is every chance that Konate will follow the same path that Karim Adeyemi, Erling Haaland and Patson Daka followed at Salzburg en route to a top European league. In addition to being athletic, active – his off-the-ball movements see him frequently arrive in goal-scoring position – and opportunistic, the 19-year-old is excellent in the air and strikes the ball well with both feet.

Faris Moumbagna, 23, ST, Bodø/Glimt – Cameroon

A relative newcomer at international level, Moumbagna only earned his first cap in November after a remarkable year with the Norwegian champions. And his journey to European football has been anything but ordinary.

The powerful left-footed striker spent two seasons in the United Soccer League with Bethlehem Steel before arriving in Norway at Kristiansund. But it took a move to Bodø/Glimt before they found consistent scoring form again.

A clinical finisher capable of scoring from different angles and positions, he leads the line well and is at his best when he can take advantage of his exceptional speed to run in behind the defensive line.

Adamo Nagalo, 20 years old, CB, FC Nordsjaelland – Burkina Faso

Not yet a regular in the team, the ball-playing central defender has always attracted admirers in the Premier League and Bundesliga. Mobile, elegant, excellent in first interceptions and athletic, Nagalo stands out for his skills with the ball – he often touches it more than 70 times during a match – and is able to find passes between the lines or identify deep runners.

A joy to watch, Nagalo's unwavering confidence means he is happy to advance with the ball, often fooling the first line of pressure with a risky dribble or change of pace.