The 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has reached final stages with four top teams now set to play the semi-finals on Wednesday and Thursday.
As always, AFCON has thrown up memorable storylines and performances with some of the world’s finest footballers showcasing skills and talents.
Popular names such as Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Senegal’s Sadio Mane, Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar, and Burkina Faso’s Djibril Ouattara have played a key role in helping their nations qaualify for the big four.
Here we take a look at some of the four teams’ brightest stars who have made remarkable performances so far.
Vincent Aboubakar – Cameroon
Vincent Aboubakar, born 1992, is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Saudi Professional League club Al Nassr and the Cameroon national team.
Aboubakar has a wonderful tournament so far, leading the scoring charts with six goals. No player had netted more than five times at Afcon since 1998 where Egypt’s Hossam Hassan and South Africa’s Benni McCarthy racked up seven strikes, a tally Aboubakar could reach if he scores against Egypt.
Abdou Diallo – Senegal
Abdou Diallo has been quietly enjoying an impressive tournament, forming a brilliant partnership with Kalidou Koulibaly, who has question marks over his fitness currently.
Diallo is a classy operator with a slick left foot and brilliant defensive instincts. He’s been rock solid at the heart of defense for Senegal, and his passing out from back through is an important asset for a modern day left-sided center back.
Djibril Ouattara – Burkina Faso
Born September 1999, Ouattara is a Burkinabé footballer who currently plays as a forward for the Moroccan club RS Berkane and for the Burkina Faso national football team. Ouattara scored on the stroke of half-time as 10-man Burkina Faso completed a hat-trick of Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final victories over Tunisia with a 1-0 win in Garoua on Saturday.
Mohamed Salah – Egypt
Egyptian winger and forward Mohamed Salah started the tournament very slow, with his team losing the first game to Nigeria. But since then, he has been highly impressive, lifting up his teammates, and and finally helping them beat their arch rival Morrocco to reach the semifinal and set to face the host nation, Cameroon. Scoring 2 goals and one assist, Salah was voted Man of the Match in the quarter final against Morocco.
Sadio Mane – Senegal
Sadio Mané, 27, is the captain of the Muslim West African country of Senegal. Starting the tournament, Senegal,one of the top favourites, did not produce the expected performance, scoring only one goal in the group stage.
But during the Sunday’s quarter final match against Equatorial Guinea, Mane set up a goal by Famara Diedhiou, who plays with Alanyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig.
Trézéguet, Egypt
Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim Hassan, commonly known as Trézéguet is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Egypt national team.
In the quarter final against Morocco, Trezeguet scored the winner in extra time after finishing off a great pass from Salah to send Egypt to the last four at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo.
