The Africa Cup of Nations is known to always throw up exciting youngsters who go on to greater things in their career.
Ahead of the 34th AFCON, which kicks off on Saturday, here are 11 young players to watch out for in Cote d’Ivoire.
Alhassan Yusuf (NIGERIA)
The 23-year-old was a late replacement for injured Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Yusuf has been a regular feature for Belgian champions Royal Antwerp this season with 22 appearances, one goal and three assists.
His first ever appearance for the Super Eagles came in the recent friendly game against Syli National of Guinea.
Pape Matar Sarr (SENEGAL)
Pape Matar Sarr has been impressive for Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur after netting two goals and providing two assists in 18 games.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who was the CAF 2022 Young Player of the Year, will head into the 2023 AFCON as one of the best midfielders to watch.
Ousmane Diomande ( COTE D’IVOIRE)
At just 20-year-old Ousmane Diomande, Cote d’Ivoire possess a formidable defender who could be one of the stars of the tournament.
Diomande heads into this year’s AFCON on the back of a brilliant half season at Sporting Lisbon where he has made 21 appearances, scoring twice and providing one assist.
Also, he has played five Europa League games for Sporting and has a goal to his name.
Karim Konate (COTE D’IVOIRE)
Another Ivorian to keep an eye on his Red Bull Salzburg centre-forward Karim Konate, who has been impressive for the Austrian club.
This season the 19-year-old has found the back of the net eight times in 17 games.
Hugo Buyla (EQUATORIAL GUINEA)
This 19-year-old Hugo Buyla, born in Zaragoza, Spain, is one player the Super Eagles and other teams in Group A of AFCON 2023 must monitor.
The Atalanta defender has been enjoying a loan spell at Sampdoria where he has made six appearances in the Italian Serie B.
Franculino Dju ( GUINEA-BISSAU)
Another youngster the Super Eagles and others in AFCON 2023 Group A must be mindful of is Guinea-Bissau’s Franculino Dju.
The 19-year-old is already a household name in the Danish Superligaen where he plays for FC Midtjylland and has netted six goals in 14 league games in the first round.
Ernest Nuamah (GHANA)
Lyon winger Ernest Nuamah was crowned the best young player and the overall player of the season for the 2022/23 season while he was with FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark.
The 20-year-old has a fantastic left foot and he can decide the outcome of games through individual brilliance.
Lamine Camara (SENEGAL)
Despite Metz’s unimpressive form in the French Ligie 1, 20-year-old midfielder, Lamine Camara has shown his pedigree, scoring once and providing two assists in 17 games.
As Senegal hope to retain the AFCON title when hostilities kick off in Cote d’Ivoire, Camara will be key in the middle of the pitch for coach Alioum Cisse’s men.
Ilaix Moriba (GUINEA)
A former Spanish youth international, Ilaix Moriba switched allegiance to play for Guinea in January 2022 and has so far played 14 games, scoring one goal.
The 20-year-old former Barcelona youngster, who now plays for RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga, is capable of playing in the central, defensive and attacking midfield role.
Zito Luvumbo (ANGOLA)
Luvumbo began his international career with Angola at U15 level and went on to win the COSAFA U17 cup with his nation in 2018 in Mauritius.
At 21, the Cagliari midfielder has already made eight senior national team appearances and he will be the arrowhead for Angola.
Bilal El Khannouss (MOROCCO)
Bilal El Khannouss, the 19-year-old Genk midfielder, is among the exciting teenagers in Belgium, having made 20 appearances this season, scoring three goals and providing an equal number of assists.
Born in Belgium to Moroccan parents, he made his international debut for the Atlas Lions during the 2022 World Cup third-place game against Croatia.
