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As the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on Friday (June 21st) in Cairo with the opening match between Egypt and Zimbabwe, RFI will take a look at the 10 African stars that will be hosting the competition.
- Mohamed Salah (27 years old, Egypt)
The Egyptian Mohamed Salah will undoubtedly be one of the most scrutinized players throughout the competition that takes place at home for the Pharaohs. After a disappointing 2018 World Cup that ended in elimination in the first round, the Egyptians hope to redeem themselves in front of their audience and the pressure will be huge on the shoulders of Mo Salah. With 27 goals scored this season for Liverpool, against 44 in the 2017-2018 fiscal year, the 27-year-old striker was, on the individual level, a little less convincing than last year. On the other hand, on the collective level, this year he won the Champions League with the Reds , including a crucial goal in the final. To win for Egypt an 8th CAN would conclude a season of dreams for Salah and would definitely return to the pantheon of Egyptian football.
- Sadio Mané (27 years old, Senegal)
With Salah, Sadio Mané was one of the other great champions of Liverpool's win in the Champions League against Tottenham. The dazzling Senegalese winger has steadily improved since his arrival on the banks of the Mersey in 2016, so much so that he was probably one of the best players of the team of Jurgen Klopp throughout this season where he scored 27 goals. His explosion at the highest level now makes him the undisputed technical leader of the Senegalese selection of which he is the captain. He will unfortunately be suspended for the Teranga Lions' first game against Tanzania on June 23 after scoring two yellow cards in the playoffs. The former Metz player will make his debut in competition only for the shock of Group C which will oppose the men of Aliou Cisse to Algeria.
- Riyad Mahrez (28 years old, Algeria)
It is in this match of group C that Sadio Mané should cross the road of another big star of this CAN 2019 in Egypt. Transferred from Leicester to Manchester City last summer , Riyad Mahrez has just completed a successful first season with the Citizens which ended with a title of Champion of England. With Algeria not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, the captain of the Fennecs undoubtedly wants to catch up and show all his talent. The 2016 African Golden Ball has already set the tone before his team's first match in the competition by saying, " Facing Kenya, we will have no excuses ".
- Nicolas Pépé (24 years old, Ivory Coast)
He has been the revelation of the French Championship this season with Lille with 22 goals and 11 assists. The young 24-year-old striker, winner of the Marc-Vivien Foé prize for the best African player in L1, was one of the main architects of the 2nd place of Lille and his qualification in the Champions League. The Ivorian is now one of the most courted players in Europe during this transfer window. But before thinking of changing clubs, the winger of the 11 selections for 4 goals, which will be the main offensive weapon of the Elephants, will meet on his way to South Africa on June 24 for the first match of the competition of Ivorians.
- Hakim Ziyech (26 years old, Morocco)
The Moroccan offensive midfielder made a stunning season with Ajax Amsterdam, which led them to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals and won the Dutch championship. At 26, Hakim Ziyech has just achieved one of the best career seasons and all major European clubs keep an eye on him. Angry for a while with coach Hervé Renard, he is now back in the team and is a centerpiece of the Atlas Lions who will challenge Namibia for their first game in the competition on June 23rd.
- Kalidou Koulibaly (27 years old, Senegal)
For some, he is one of the best defenders in the world, he certainly the best defender in Africa. Always regular with Naples where he plays since 2014, Kalidou Koulibaly has established himself as one of the strongest central backs of Series A. Fast, powerful and imperial in the air, he is the boss of the rearguard Senegalese and is always present in the big matches.
- André Onana (23 years old, Cameroon)
Like his team-mate Hakim Ziyech, Cameroon goalkeeper André Onana has just completed the best season of his career with Ajax Amsterdam. At only 23, he is one of the most promising goalkeepers of his generation. Formed for four years at the Masia FC Barcelona, it is with Ajax he explodes at the highest level. He will celebrate his tenth selection with Cameroon against Guinea-Bissau for the first match of the Indomitable Lions in this CAN 2019.
- Whabi Khazri (28 years old, Tunisia)
At 28, the Tunisian midfielder has already experienced many Ligue 1 clubs and he will already take part in the third CAN of his career, but with his last season, he moved to another dimension with Saint-Etienne. Author of 15 goals and 10 assists, he was one of the great artisans of the fourth place of the Greens synonymous with qualification for the Europa League. He will be the main offensive asset of the Carthage Eagles who will enter the competition on June 24 against Angola in Suez.
- Cédric Bakambu (28 years old, DR Congo)
His transfer to Beijing Guoan for about 72 million has made him the most expensive African player in history , and if he assumes to have taken the leadership of China for financial reasons, Cedric Bakambu remains the number one offensive weapon of Congo Leopards. Even if the Chinese league is much less elevated than the Spanish Liga where he previously played with Villareal, forward RD Congolais continues to blaze with 23 goals scored for Beijing Guoan in 28 games played in 2018. He also offered qualifying for CAN 2019, scoring the crucial 1-0 goal against Liberia in the final playoff game.
- André Ayew (30 years old, Ghana)
At 30 years old, André Ayew is an essential part of the Ghana team with whom he honored his first selection 12 years ago. The attacking midfielder is now the captain of the Black Stars and even if he gets out of a low season with his club Fenerbahçe, he will be one of the players to be counted on. Although he is sometimes disappointing in the club, his long experience in international competitions, be it the CAN or the 2010 World Cup where Ghana reached the quarter-finals, allows him to always be present when defending the colors of his country. So there is no reason for it to change in the first game of the Black Stars against Benin on June 24th.