Sadio Mané will not be succeeding himself for the title of AFCON Best Player. The Senegalese striker's chances are all but over following his team's elimination in the Round of 8. As did other big stars such as Mohamed Salah, Acraf Hakimi and Riyad Mahrez, who also exited prematurely. But there are other players who distinguished themselves at AFCON 2023 and continue to impress.
The semi-finalists for the AFCON 2023 have been announced. Nigeria, DR Congo, Côte d'Ivoire and South Africa will contest the last four. Sadio Mané's successor for the title of best player of the competition should also come from one of these teams.
Victor Osimhen, at the service of the team
Nigeria may not have been eagerly awaited, but the Super Eagles are certainly there, thanks to the great Victor Osimhen. Although he managed just one goal and one assist, the Nigerian striker remains a serious contender for the title of best player at this year's AFCON. Indeed, Osimhen was at the service of his team. The leader of the attack, he is also the first to press the defenders and is always the first on the ball in his area from set-pieces.
Thanks to his excellent heading skills, he is a great defensive force for his team in these phases of the game. His commitment, determination and desire are beyond question. His movement also frees up space for team-mates like Ademola Lookman.The Atalanta Bergamo striker is the one who benefits most. His 3 goals in the competition, including the last one against Angola (1-0) in the quarter-finals, bear witness to this. He took advantage of an excellent move by the Neapolitan striker.
Very athletic, Victor Osimhen relieves his team up front and causes his opponents a great deal of difficulty. He has lacked a little success since the start of the competition. With a little more luck in the semi-finals, he'd go a long way to winning the MVP award.
Ademola Lookman, symbol of Nigeria's metamorphosis
Since their opening-day 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria have undergone a complete metamorphosis. The Supers Eagles have shown a new face, with a much more compact, organized and solid team. A change of system and men has enabled them to rack up 4 wins in a row.
Now playing in front of just behind Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman is shining like never before. The Nigerian now has 3 goals and an assist to his name. Three goals scored at very decisive moments. The Atalanta striker scored both goals against Cameroon in the Round of 8 (2-0) and the only goal against Angola in the quarter-finals. He benefits greatly from the hard work of Napoli's striker, and, like Moses Simon, is a real force in the game.
The Olympique de Marseille defender has not disappointed in this competition. On the contrary, he has led his team with an iron fist, setting an example on the pitch. Defensively solid and a great leader, he succeeded in taking his team to the semi-finals. A first since 2015 (3rd).
Chancel Mbemba is demonstrating all his leadership qualities in this competition. In the quarter-finals, he was responsible for the penalty that opened the scoring for Guinea. He also equalised for his team a few minutes later. With him, DR Congo have not lost a match since the start of the tournament. With the possibility of playing in the final or even being crowned African champion, Chancel Mbemba remains one of the favourites for the title of best player of the competition.
Teboho Mokoena, the outsider
His free-kick against Morocco in the Round of 8 (0-2) will remain engraved in his memory, but also in those of the fans who watched the match. Teboho Mokoena's masterful free-kick in stoppage time (90+5), which he took throughout the match, set South Africa free.An exceptional curler that crucified Yassine Bounou.
Born in South Africa, Teboho Mokoena plays for Mamelodi Sundowns. The 27-year-old midfielder is one of Hugo Broos' key players. The Bafana Bafana player is at the heart of the game and has a wide reach. His vision and positional sense enable him to be everywhere on the pitch. His technical ability makes the South Africans' game more fluid, and he often unleashes long-range shots. He's no slouch when it comes to physical exertion either, and is always on the move. A great asset for South Africa.
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Ladies and gentlemen, meet your #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 semi-finalists! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/eO24dUOJHG
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 4, 2024
