The African Cup of Nations in Côte d'Ivoire (January 13-February 11, 2024) will be an opportunity for a number of young players to compete in their first tournament. But it will also be marked by the presence of older internationals, who have often forged close ties with the competition.
Max-Alain Gradel (36, Côte d'Ivoire)
The Ivorian striker has yet to give any indication of the next steps in his international career, which began in 2011 (107 caps, 17 goals), but the possibility of him playing his last AFCON in his homeland is obviously conceivable for a footballer who turned 36 last November. On home soil, the Elephant, who now plays for Gaziantep (Turkey) after spells in England, France and Sivasspor, will be taking part in his seventh finals, and he dreams, like all his compatriots, of lifting the trophy in Abidjan on February 11. He is one of the last survivors of the 2015 edition, which saw Côte d'Ivoire win their second title in Equatorial Guinea after the one they won in 1992.
Islam Slimani (35, Algeria)
African champion in 2019, the Algerian striker is also the national team's all-time top scorer (46 goals in 99 appearances). Now playing for Coritiba FC (Brazil), Slimani has always preferred the top European leagues (Portugal, England, France, Turkey and Belgium) to those of the Persian Gulf, despite numerous requests from this part of the world. Highly appreciated by his coach Djamel Belmadi, his team-mates and the Fennecs' fans, the former CR Belouizdad striker is a model of professionalism, and it's not out of the question to think that he'll be stretching his international career after the AFCON.
Youssef Msakni (33, Tunisia)
The captain of the Carthage Eagles is no stranger to AFCON finals, as he will be playing in his 8th consecutive continental competition in Côte d'Ivoire. This technically gifted player, scorer of 23 goals in 99 appearances, is undoubtedly one of the best footballers in Tunisia's history. However, he only won the African Nations Championship in 2011 with the national team.
Trained at Stade Tunisien and first discovered at Esperance Tunis, Youssef Msakni preferred to spend most of the rest of his career in Qatar, apart from a brief and discreet spell at Eupen (Belgium) in 2019. He now plays for Al-Arabi, one of Doha's many clubs.
André Ayew (34, Ghana)
The son of the legendary Abedi Pelé has little time left if he is to emulate his father, who won the African Cup of Nations with the Black Stars in Libya in 1982. André Ayew, who will be playing in his 8th finals, remains one of Ghana's major assets, even if his nonchalance can sometimes get the better of him. The Ghanaian captain and attacking midfielder, who recently rejoined a club in his native France (Le Havre), has travelled widely in his career, including stints in England, Turkey and Qatar, alternating between success and disappointment.
In Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana will not be the favourites and André Ayew, like those who were present in Cameroon in 2022, will first of all strive to do better than two years ago, when the Black Stars exited the AFCON at the first round stage.
Elias Gaspar Pelembé "Domingues" (40, Mozambique)
In Côte d'Ivoire, the midfielder and captain of the Mozambique Mambas will be the oldest player, having celebrated his 40th birthday in November 2023. This will be only his second AFCON, after the 2010 event in Angola. The man nicknamed "Domingues" is a real star in his homeland, where he returned to US Songo in 2023 after a 16-year exile in South Africa (Supersport, Mamelodi Sundowns, Bidvest Wits, Royal AM), crowned with a number of titles. The Mozambican veteran, who has 107 caps and 16 goals to his name since his first cap in 2004, remains as influential as ever in his team's play, where he is a veritable free electron.
