Top Players From AFCON 2021 Group Stage

The Africa Cup of Nations is a superb platform for Africa’s top players to display their skills, and this year’s AFCON edition is no exception. Players from a wide range of leagues from the English premiership to African leagues have graced this year’s showpiece.

So far in the opinion of this correspondent among the best five players to have surfaced thus far from the group stage are:

• Vincent Aboubakar: Captain and leader of host nation Cameroon, kicked off the competition in excellent fashion. His 5 goals in the group stage helped skyrocket the Indomitable Lions to a first place finish in Group A and a knockout round qualification. Drawn with debutants Comoros in the Round of 16, Aboubakar’s leadership quality, experience and goalscoring ability will be key to success for Cameroon.

• Ibrahima Kone: Mali striker, Kone spearheaded them to a top spot finish in Group F as his 3 goals preserved their unbeaten record in the competition so far. Mali who have a tricky test against Equatorial Guinea in the Round of 16 will be looking to their goal man to deliver the goods once again for them and see them progress to the next round.

• Cheikhou Kouyate: 2019 AFCON runners-up Senegal, have had an erratic start to this year’s edition but remains among the top players from the group stage. Their defensive resilience although is not one to overlook as the Teranga Lions are yet to concede a single goal in the tournament so far. Kouyate’s commanding presence in midfield has been vital to Senegal’s brilliant defensive performance. Scoring just one goal and still trying to find their feet in front of goal, Senegal will be looking to see off Cape Verde in the Round of 16.

• Moses Simon: Nigeria’s winger, Simon is considered to among the top players of the AFCON tournament so far. With one assist and one goal so far, his overall performance has been scintilating. His blistering pace, quick feet and exquisite crossing ability has fired the Super Eagles to a 100% percent record in the group stage, becoming the only team to attain all possible nine points from their three group games. Simon who is Nigeria’s greatest threat going forward, will be their lethal weapon as the competition’s favourites look to go all the way and emerge champions.

• Nicolas Pepe: Arsenal and Ivory Coast forward, Nicolas Pepe has been his team’s best player since the start of the competition. The Elephants have their winger to thank as his two goals and one assist saw them dominate Group E coming out on top. A very tough Round of 16 tie against Egypt will be their biggest test so far and Nicolas Pepe will for sure be the man to watch as Ivory Coast look to march on and end up triumphant.

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