The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 is set to kick off on January 13 in Ivory Coast, and it will feature some of the best talents from the Premier League. The biennial tournament, which was postponed from 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will see 24 teams compete for the continental glory.
Among them are some familiar faces from the English top flight, who will be hoping to lead their nations to glory. Here are some of the Premier League stars who are expected to shine at AFCON 2023:
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
The Liverpool forward is arguably the biggest star of the tournament, and he will be eager to end Egypt’s 14-year wait for their eighth AFCON title. Salah, who won the African Footballer of the Year award in 2017 and 2018, has been in sensational form for the Reds this season, scoring 16 goals and providing 10 assists in 21 games in all competitions.
Salah will captain the Pharaohs, who are in Group B with Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique. The 31-year-old has scored 49 goals in 79 caps for his country, and he will be looking to add to his tally and cement his legacy as one of the greatest African players of all time.
Andre Onana (Cameroon)
The Manchester United goalkeeper is one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, and he will be vital for Cameroon’s chances of winning their sixth AFCON title. Onana, who joined the Red Devils from Ajax in the summer, has been impressive in his debut season in the Premier League, keeping 10 clean sheets in 19 games.
Onana will lead the Indomitable Lions, who are the defending champions of the tournament. They are in Group F with Algeria, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone. The 26-year-old has 28 caps for his country, and he was part of the squad that won the AFCON in 2017 in Gabon.
Nicolas Jackson (Senegal)
The Chelsea striker is one of the most prolific scorers in Europe, and he will be hoping to fire Senegal to their first ever AFCON title. Jackson, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Napoli in the summer, has been a revelation for the Blues, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists in 22 games in all competitions.
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Jackson will partner Sadio Mane, who plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, in Senegal’s attack. They are in Group D with Tunisia, Mali and Mauritania. The 25-year-old has 21 goals in 36 caps for his country, and he was the joint-top scorer of the AFCON in 2019 in Cameroon, where Senegal lost to Algeria in the final.
Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast)
The Galatasaray winger is one of the most exciting players in the tournament, and he will be aiming to help Ivory Coast win their third AFCON title. Zaha, who left Crystal Palace for Turkey in the summer, has been in fine form for his new club, scoring 10 goals and providing eight assists in 18 games in all competitions.
Zaha will be the main threat for the Elephants, who are the hosts of the tournament. They are in Group A with Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. The 29-year-old has 23 goals in 51 caps for his country, and he was part of the squad that won the AFCON in 2015 in Equatorial Guinea.
