Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire)
Four-time African Footballer of the Year, Yaya Toure, will undoubtedly be the most high-profile star to watch in Equatorial Guinea as Cote d’Ivoire seek to win the Africa Cup of Nations title for the first time since their only previous success in 1992. And with his doggedness and incisive passes, not forgetting his impressive goal scoring ability, fans of Les Elephants will be hoping Toure can replicate his impressive form for Manchester City in the famous orange colours of his country.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been one of the most consistent African strikers in Europe in recent times and has made the final five-man shortlist of nominees for the CAF African Footballer of the Year award in the past two years and he will be in Equatorial Guinea to further confirm his status as one of the continent’s top players, even though he has not been able to lead his country past the AFCON quarterfinals. But after scoring twice and providing four assists as the Panthers finished top of their 2015 AFCON qualifying group ahead of Burkina Faso, the Borussia Dortmund striker will be hoping to lead his country to a historic last-four appearance in Equatorial Guinea.
Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroun)
With Cameroun’s all-time leading scorer Samuel Eto’o missing out of the 2015 AFCON after retiring from international football, Vincent Aboubakar is expected to lead the Indomitable Lions’ quest for a fifth AFCON title, especially after impressing during the qualifiers where he grabbed four goals as the Central Africans finished top of their qualifying group ahead of Cote d’Ivoire. Strong, fast and very deadly in front of goal, the 22-year-old, who scored 16 goals for French side Lorient last season before making a summer switch to FC Porto, will be out to prove to officials of the Portuguese side that he deserves to be playing much more regularly than he currently does for the former European champions.
Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)
Ghana’s all-time leading scorer, Asamoah Gyan, has scored more goals than any other African at the World Cup and has won numerous awards as a player. But the Ghana captain is yet to win a major international tournament with the Black Stars, who will be keen to finally land an AFCON title after securing topfour finishes in the last four editions albeit without winning the trophy. The scorer of three goals in the qualifiers for AFCON 2015, Gyan is now expected to build on his fine goal-scoring form for his country as they try to navigate past a tough group stage where they will be up against Algeria, Senegal and South Africa.
Nabil Bentaleb (Algeria)
Not since Sunday Oliseh has an African player showed so much creativity playing in front of the backline as Nabil Bentaleb has displayed in the colours of his beloved Algeria and English Premier League side, Tottenham. The youngster performs the important role of shielding the back four from danger while also contributing to the attack with precise passing reminiscent of the iconic Nigerian midfielder who played a pivotal role for the Super Eagles on their way to the 1994 AFCON title. Algerians will be hoping Bentaleb can do likewise and lead their side to a second AFCON title, 25 years after their only success.
Jonathan Pitroipa (Burkina Faso)
Two years ago, at the last AFCON in South Africa, Jonathan Pitroipa emerged as the biggest star of the tournament as Burkina Faso marched all the way to the final before succumbing to a lone goal defeat at the hands of Nigeria. The Al Jazira of the UAE star will be in Equatorial Guinea hoping to continue from where he left off last time around in the hope of leading the Stallions to a historic AFCON title after finishing as the top scorer of the qualifying campaign with six goals in as many matches.
Wilfried Bony (Cote d’Ivoire)
With the legendary Didier Drogba no longer around, the man now charged with the responsibility of leading Cote d’Ivoire’s charge for goals in a Cup of Nations group that also includes Cameroon, Guinea and Mali will be new Manchester City signing Wilfried Bony. Although he netted only once during their qualifying run, as Les Elephants finished in second place behind Camer-oon, Bony’s impressive goal scoring form, which saw him bag more goals in 2014 than any other EPL player, could serve as a motivational boost for the 25-year-old as the West African nation look to win a first AFCON title since their only previous success in 1992.
Seydou Keita (Mali)
Seydou Keita may be 35 and may not be as fast as he was during his AFCON debut in 2002, where his dazzling skills led the Malians to a fourth-place finish on home soil, but he still has an eye for a killer pass and will be hoping he can do enough to help the Eagles make an appreciable impact at what is his seventh AFCON appearance. With few leaders to call upon in his team, Mali coach, Henryk Kasperczak, may need the Roma player’s calming influence in the centre of midfield as they face Guinea, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire in the group stage. Papiss Cisse (Senegal)
The Teranga Lions of Senegal will need to be at their best in order to progress to the knockout rounds from a tough group featuring Algeria, Ghana and South Africa. But they will be confident of their chances with Papiss Cisse leading a frontline that also has his former Newcastle United teammate, Demba Ba, and Stoke City star, Biroum Diouf. The in-form Cisse will be hoping his fine form for struggling English Premier League side, Newcastle, can be replicated at the AFCON as Senegal look to win a first ever continental title.
Yosouf Mulumbu (DR Congo)
There are very few teams in Africa that can boast of having a player with the physical attributes of Yosouf Mulumbu, who not only does the dirty job for his country and English club side, West Brom, but also creates goal scoring opportunities for his teammates despite spending most of the time on the pitch positioned in front of his backline. With no AFCON title to their credit since 1974, Mulumbu could prove to be the catalyst DR Congo need to reclaim their status as one of the continent’s top sides.
Mame Diouf (Senegal)
Stoke City winger, Mame Diouf, has since the start of the English Premier League season mesmerised opposing defences with his speed and skill and will be sorely missed by fans of the Potters throughout Senegal’s involvement at the AFCON. With five goals for Stoke so far, despite playing from a wide position, fans of the Senegalese team will be hoping Diouf can replicate his club form for his country and even turn provider for his teammates.
Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo)
Not much was known of Yannick Bohis impressive displays last season for English side Crystal Palace who finished a very impressive 12th in the EPL standings. But the forward will be a marked man in Equatorial Guinea as the 1974 AFCON champions look to progress to the knockout rounds from a group that also has Cape Verde, Tunisia and Zambia. However, Bolasie is fast becoming a growing force in Africa and has emerged as his country’s key man in recent times as exemplified in his country’s impressive 4-3 victory over Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan, where his pace, dribbling ability and eye for a pass persistently tormented the Ivoirians.
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