There is nothing “little” about a soccer tournament that involves nations from a continent as large and diverse as Africa. Misguided––or “ironic”––comments from Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp or not. Each tournament sees a time where the connection between fans and soccer players morph and evolve––this is no different for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Soccer journalist Salim Masoud Said recalled: “AFCON is the first major tournament I remember watching during my childhood in Tanzania. That makes it very personal. I recall Burkina Faso receiving their third-place medals as one of my early memories. That may not be significant to many, but it was significant to me because before that tournament I had never heard of the country.”
Sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the AFCON is the flagship continental competition in Africa capable of opening doors and telling unique stories from worlds unlike ours. But there is still, unfortunately, a dismissal of the AFCON’s potential as many fans often view the tournament as a sideshow. Earlier this month, a reporter asked Ajax forward Sebastien Haller if he would prefer to stay with the club to start 2022 or join the AFCON with Ivory Coast. His response was concise and direct: “This question shows the disrespect for [AFCON]. Would this question ever get asked to a European player ahead of the Euros? Of course I am going to the Africa Cup.” In response to such coverage of the African Cup, Senegalese Crystal Palace coach Patrick Viera urged those in the soccer media to “go to Africa and interview people to really understand what [AFCON] means for every single one of them.”
In hopes of attracting greater interest for the Africa Cup, this article will highlight players that deserve recognition for their performances in AFCON matches. A quick caveat before we begin. The aim here is not to re-anoint the already-renowned players. Who doesn’t know Liverpool duo Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane, Chelsea starting goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, or Manchester City ace Riyad Mahrez? As the competition unfolds and the stronger teams move up the ladder, these set of players will automatically be hailed. To shed light on the athletes under the radar, I’ll primarily focus on some of the lesser-known names: the young players who are overshadowed by teammates who often get the world’s attention and the unheralded stars from the smaller countries.
Mohamed Kamara (Sierra Leone; East End Lions F.C.)
One of the surprises from the first round of group matches was reigning champion Algeria’s failure to secure a victory against Sierra Leone. Though the scoreless match indicates the weaknesses of Djamel Belmadi’s Algerian side, the 0-0 draw was largely due to Kamara’s exceptional performance in goal. Despite the heavy attacking pressure from Lyon’s Slimani and Porto’s Brahimi throughout the game, Kamara remained composed and recorded seven impressive saves. The threatening cut-in shots from Mahrez did not phase the 22-year-old as he managed to keep a clean sheet and secure a point in Sierra Leone’s first AFCON match since 1996. Kamara’s best save was arguably his denial of Mahrez, when Kamara skillfully tipped a blazing cross-shot in the final minutes of the game. As the referee blew the full-time whistle, the East End Lions goalkeeper broke down in tears as it became clear what the world-class performance meant to him. The young talent’s positioning, reflexes, and maturity on the pitch deserve praise, and his Man-of-the-Match performance plants a seed of hope for the future of Sierra Leone’s soccer program.
Youcef Belaili (Algeria; unattached)
Belaili has an incredible passing range. Algeria wasn’t able to snatch the win against Sierra Leone, but Belaili kept the hopes alive until the final minutes. His most memorable play was the pitching-wedge ball played off the touchline which perfectly dropped into the space behind the defense for Brahimi to finish. A few minutes later, Belaili launched another crossfield pass to Mahrez which led to a goal-scoring opportunity. None of the passes were converted into goals, but Belaili was one of the few players on the field who persisted and continued to create chances for Algeria. After leaving Qatar SC last month, Belaili is without a club but plays the creative midfielder role for his national side. Watching Belaili’s performance reminded me of Argentine legend Juan Román Riquelme––not in terms of technicality but in playstyle and demeanor. Even under pressure, Belaili plays with a commanding force, slowing the ball to walking pace and then releasing a crisp pass of any flight or type. If Algeria goes far in this journey to regain their AFCON title, expect him to be influential.
Joe Aribo (Nigeria; Rangers F.C.)
Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho stole the show against Egypt, scoring a classy half-volley for the win, but Aribo’s contribution to the game-winning goal summed up his performance: he was instrumental in preventing the Egypt defense from properly clearing the ball, and Aribo’s second-ball header dropped perfectly at Iheanacho’s feet. Aribo was everywhere for everyone, always creating opportunities in the midfield, shifting to receive a pass, covering space, and offering defensive support––he has a selfless mentality that we rarely see at the professional level. Simply put, Aribo is efficient with the ball: he never tries anything too flashy, and his work-rate behind the scenes was incredible. Nigeria and the Rangers have a gem of a player. The longer he stays in the tournament, the better. Watch him.
Honorable Mentions
It’s impossible to spotlight all the talent in the AFCON tournament, but here are some honorable mentions that also caught my eye: Ethiopia’s Abubeker Nassir for his clever off-the-ball movements and attacking presence against Cape Verde; Cameroon’s Nouhou Tolo for winning a decisive penalty and producing spectacular clearances at left-back against Burkina Faso; and Guinea-Bissau’s Moreto Cassamá maintained the tempo of the game against Sudan by creating intelligent give-and-go movements.
Every time AFCON arrives, we’ve seen skeptical fans and doubters trying to underplay its importance to the wider soccer community. But you cannot bury an AFCON tournament, for it is a seed of unbridled soccer joy and a valuable opportunity for underrated talents to shine.
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