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Age: 32
Club: Barcelona, Spain
There have been few better midfielders to come out of Africa in the last 15 years and it is testament to Keita’s ability that he remains a regular member of the Barcelona side that is packed with magnificent midfielders, some of the best ever to play the game. He has played no less than 26 times for the club this season, making a big contribution to their current campaign. He is also the talisman of this Mali side, who look to him to provide attacking threat from midfield, and is one of the most experienced members of the squad, now competing in his fifth Nations Cup finals.
Age: 25
Club: Lille, France
Sow is one of the hottest strikers in Europe after scoring 25 goals in the 2010/12 French Ligue 1 season to help unfancied Lille to the title. Born in France, he is a former French Under-21 international but opted to play his senior football with Senegal, making his debut in 2009. He has been linked with a host of big European sides in this January transfer window, most recently Liverpool, and a good Africa Cup of Nations tournament will surely see him move on, if not in January, then at the end of the season.
YAYA TOURE (COTE D'IVOIRE)
Age: 28
Club: Manchester City, England
The reigning African Footballer of the Year has matured into a magnificent midfielder who is spearheading the ‘new Manchester City’. Testament to the regard with which he is held at Eastlands is the flat-out panic that has ensued with his departure for the 2012 Nations Cup, where he will be the key figure for Cote d’Ivoire. In previous years Didier Drogba would have easily claimed the mantle as the biggest star for his country, but he has arguably been overtaken by the magnificent Toure.
Age: 28
Club: Manchester City, England
The reigning African Footballer of the Year has matured into a magnificent midfielder who is spearheading the ‘new Manchester City’. Testament to the regard with which he is held at Eastlands is the flat-out panic that has ensued with his departure for the 2012 Nations Cup, where he will be the key figure for Cote d’Ivoire. In previous years Didier Drogba would have easily claimed the mantle as the biggest star for his country, but he has arguably been overtaken by the magnificent Toure.
ANDRE AYEW (GHANA)
Age: 22
Club: Marseille, France
Ayew, the son of Ghana legend Abedi Pele, burst onto the global scene at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and has continued his development to become one of the top young prospects in France’s Ligue 1. He has scored 12 goals in 21 appearances for ‘OM’ this season, a fantastic return for a midfielder and he will be a key attacking threat for the Black Stars, who tend to play with just one forward.
Age: 22
Club: Marseille, France
Ayew, the son of Ghana legend Abedi Pele, burst onto the global scene at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and has continued his development to become one of the top young prospects in France’s Ligue 1. He has scored 12 goals in 21 appearances for ‘OM’ this season, a fantastic return for a midfielder and he will be a key attacking threat for the Black Stars, who tend to play with just one forward.
DEMBA BA (SENEGAL)
Age: 26
Club: Newcastle United, England
Ba has had a remarkable first half of the season for English Premiership Newcastle United, where he has netted 15 goals in just 17 starts following his move from West Ham United. That puts him second on the goalscorers list behind Arsenal’s Robin van Persie, but it is also the quality of the strikes that has seen some much bigger clubs look at the French-born Senegalese star. Along with Moussa Sow, Pappa Cisse and Mama Niang, Ba forms part of the most potent forward line at the 2012 Nations Cup.
Age: 26
Club: Newcastle United, England
Ba has had a remarkable first half of the season for English Premiership Newcastle United, where he has netted 15 goals in just 17 starts following his move from West Ham United. That puts him second on the goalscorers list behind Arsenal’s Robin van Persie, but it is also the quality of the strikes that has seen some much bigger clubs look at the French-born Senegalese star. Along with Moussa Sow, Pappa Cisse and Mama Niang, Ba forms part of the most potent forward line at the 2012 Nations Cup.
ISMAIL AISSATI (MOROCCO)
Age: 23
Club: Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands
Aissati was born in the Netherlands and played for the Dutch Under-21 national side, winning the 2006 European Championships with them, before being persuaded to switch allegiances to Morocco in 2011. The attacking midfielder began his career with PSV Eindhoven, but moved to Ajax in 2008 and has been in and out of the side in Amsterdam since then. Skillful, brave and exciting to watch, Aissati could be the spearhead for one of the Dark Horses for this year’s title.
Age: 23
Club: Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands
Aissati was born in the Netherlands and played for the Dutch Under-21 national side, winning the 2006 European Championships with them, before being persuaded to switch allegiances to Morocco in 2011. The attacking midfielder began his career with PSV Eindhoven, but moved to Ajax in 2008 and has been in and out of the side in Amsterdam since then. Skillful, brave and exciting to watch, Aissati could be the spearhead for one of the Dark Horses for this year’s title.
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (GABON)
Age: 22
Club: St Etienne, France
Up until just a few weeks ago Aubameyang was on the books of Italian giants AC Milan, though he has spent the last few seasons on loan in the French Ligue 1, most notably with St Etienne. He has since made that move permanent and will look to celebrate by helping his host nation into the quarterfinals of the 2012 Nations Cup. Such was his prodigious talent as a teenager that both Italy and France attempted to get him to play for their junior sides, before he did eventually turn out for the French Under-21 side, having been born in that country. However, he has opted to play his senior football for Gabon, following in the footsteps of his father, Pierre senior.
Age: 22
Club: St Etienne, France
Up until just a few weeks ago Aubameyang was on the books of Italian giants AC Milan, though he has spent the last few seasons on loan in the French Ligue 1, most notably with St Etienne. He has since made that move permanent and will look to celebrate by helping his host nation into the quarterfinals of the 2012 Nations Cup. Such was his prodigious talent as a teenager that both Italy and France attempted to get him to play for their junior sides, before he did eventually turn out for the French Under-21 side, having been born in that country. However, he has opted to play his senior football for Gabon, following in the footsteps of his father, Pierre senior.
DJALMA (ANGOLA)
Age: 24
Club: FC Porto, Portugal
Djalma Braume Manuel Abel Campos, known more simply as Djalma, is one of the new stars of the Angolan national side. He plays for top Portuguese side FC Porto, following in the footsteps of South Africa’s Benni McCarthy. He joined them at the start of this season from Maritimo, where he was regarded as one of the hottest forwards in the Portuguese league. He is also able to play as a winger, which is usually the case with the Angolan national side, who have the likes of Manucho leading the line.
Age: 24
Club: FC Porto, Portugal
Djalma Braume Manuel Abel Campos, known more simply as Djalma, is one of the new stars of the Angolan national side. He plays for top Portuguese side FC Porto, following in the footsteps of South Africa’s Benni McCarthy. He joined them at the start of this season from Maritimo, where he was regarded as one of the hottest forwards in the Portuguese league. He is also able to play as a winger, which is usually the case with the Angolan national side, who have the likes of Manucho leading the line.
YASSINE CHIKHAOUI (TUNISIA)
Age: 25
Club: FC Zurich, Switzerland
Chikhaoui has battled with injuries in recent seasons but when fit has been a revelation for club and country. The attacking midfielder, who can also play as an out and out striker, has in the past drew interest from the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Juventus. He will be hoping to have a successful 2012 Nations Cup to finally make a move to one of Europe’s elite.
Age: 25
Club: FC Zurich, Switzerland
Chikhaoui has battled with injuries in recent seasons but when fit has been a revelation for club and country. The attacking midfielder, who can also play as an out and out striker, has in the past drew interest from the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Juventus. He will be hoping to have a successful 2012 Nations Cup to finally make a move to one of Europe’s elite.
MOGOGI GABONAMONG (BOTSWANA)
Age: 29
Club: SuperSport United
Gabonamong is no stranger to South Africans for the excellent work he has done with first Santos, then SuperSport United, in the PSL. His quiet efficiency largely goes unnoticed in matches, but when he is playing well, both club and country generally are on the front foot. There are no frills, just hard work and plenty of endeavour. Botswana will need to win the midfield battles if they are to get to the quarterfinals of the 2012 Nations Cup and Gabonamong is the man to put them on top.
Age: 29
Club: SuperSport United
Gabonamong is no stranger to South Africans for the excellent work he has done with first Santos, then SuperSport United, in the PSL. His quiet efficiency largely goes unnoticed in matches, but when he is playing well, both club and country generally are on the front foot. There are no frills, just hard work and plenty of endeavour. Botswana will need to win the midfield battles if they are to get to the quarterfinals of the 2012 Nations Cup and Gabonamong is the man to put them on top.
SOURCE: Mtnfootball.com
