10 Rising Stars of AFCON 2012

The AFCON 2012 have come to a close with emotions running high in the Zambia camp Sunday night at the Stade De L'Amitie Stadium in Libreville, Gabon when against all odds, they, as underdogs, defeated a star-studded Ivory Coast in the final to win African football's most prestigious title, the Africa Cup of Nations, 8-7 on penalties. 


From the first weekend of action, it really seemed like the absence of bigger teams like Nigeria, Cameroon and Egypt haven’t made much difference to the tournament’s spectator value with some of the other traditionally smaller African footballing nations, providing the same if not better levels of football.


The competition attracts viewers and scouts from across the world, and this stands to reason, as many a star was discovered at past Afcon editions. While the expected starts such as Chamakh, Gervinho, Demba Ba and Adel Taarabt failed to shine, new stars emerged and outshined the big guns in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. 


Here’s a look at 10 of the players, who emerged from this tournament :


1- EMMANUEL MAYUKA (Zambia) - Club: Young Boys (Switzerland)

The 20-year-old Young Boys striker, received his first call-up to the Zambian team in 2007 during the Cosafa Cup. He scored three goals in this tournament including the solitary goal in the semi-final against Ghana to send his team to the final. 


Mayuka's a fine player with a very bright future. He's good in the air and on the ground, and has scored more than 16 goals since arriving at his Swiss club.


Similar to: Manucho


2. PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Gabon)- Club: Saint Etienne (France)

Born in France, 22-year-old striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined the AC Milan youth team in 2007 before he was loaned to French club Saint Etienne, in order to gain experience and playing time. He has appeared once with the French Under-21 team, but opted to dedicate his senior international career to the Panthers of Gabon. 


The striker has scored five goals for his national team in 19 games. He was the shining star in the host’s team with three goals, despite missing the penalty that knocked Gabon out of the cup.


Similar to: Gervinho


3. ALAIN TRAORE (Burkina Faso)- Club: Auxerre (France)

The 22-year-old Auxerre midfielder was at the summit of the French Ligue 1 top-scorer charts for much of this season, and he will almost, certainly, still be in the running come the end of the campaign. His passing ability and positioning make him a valuable player, both at creating assists for his team-mates and finishing opportunities in front of goal. 


He enjoys playing on the wings or behind the strikers, and scored a wonderful free-kick against Angola in their opening game.


Similar to: Salamon Kalou


4. EMMANUEL AGYEMANG BADU (Ghana)- Club: Udinese (Italy)

The 20-year-old Udinese player is a solid defensive midfielder with a robust physical presence, impressive stamina, fine marking ability, and a high work-rate in training and matches. 


These attributes have earned him spots in the Ghana U20 and U23 squads, as well as over 10 appearances with the senior national team since his debut in 2008. 


Dominated Ghana midfield in this tournament and scored a wonderful volley against Guinea.


Similar to: Michael Essien


5. YOUNES BELHANDA (Morocco) - Club: Montpellier (France)

Despite Morocco’s short appearance in this tournament, the 21-year-old is midfield player displayed his talent with a goal and a wonderful assist for his team. He can play on both wings or just behind the striker, and quite balanced, rather strong, and agile in his moves and is a technical player. 


Belhanda loves to make runs from midfield and provide goals, and seems to have a good work-rate and mentality. The attacking midfielder, was a regular France youth international before pledging his international future to Morocco. Rumours are circling that he’s being scouted by Newcastle United.


Similar to: Adel Taarabt


6. MUDATHIR EL-TAHIR (Sudan) – Club: Al Hilal (Sudan)

Emerging from the surprise team of the tournament, the lanky striker held the key in Abdullah’s relatively youthful side. Mudathir started his career at Al-Hilal at 2004 and broke into the team at 2005, and later transferred to El-Neel. 


After having a good season with them, he returned to Al-Hilal in 2009 and became a star in Sudan and Al-Hilal, with a goal scoring rate of more than two goals in one game.


He is very good at shooting, dribbling, ball control, passing and has a good eye for goal. El-Tahir played as a lone striker during the 2012 African Cup of Nations and he scored twice against Burkina Faso to put Sudan through to the quarter finals.


Similar to: Marouane Chamakh


7. DAVID ÁLVAREZ AGUIRRE (Equatorial Guinea) – Club: Langreo (Spain)

The 27 year old defender, better known as Kily, plays as a right back and has good pace, provides good crosses and a lethal right foot shot. He currently plays for Langreo in the Spanish Tercera División. 


Aguirre scored the most important goal in the history of the Equatorial Guinea national football team, against Senegal in the nick of time to make the final score 2-1 to Equatorial Guinea. 


That goal meant that Equatorial Guinea's national football team would qualify for the quarter finals of the 2012 African Nations Cup, while Senegal got eliminated.


Similar to: John Pantsil



8. JEAN-JACQUES GOSSO GOSSO (Ivory Coast) – Club: Orduspor (Turkey)

Gosso started his career at Stella Club d'Adjamé in his native Cote d'Ivoire. In 2004, he moved to Wydad Casablanca in Morocco, before travelling to Israel to discuss terms with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2006. Due to financial constraints at the club, they were unable to come up with the transfer fee that the Moroccan club had come up with. He was member of the Ivory Coast U-20 squad in 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in United Arab Emirates. 


Gosso was called up to the senior squad for the first time in 2008 and was selected for the 2012 African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, playing mostly at right-back. The hard-tackler showed great understanding of positional sense and hard-work and was a main ingredient in the finalist team.


Similar to: Didier Zokora



9. YOUSSEF MSAKNI (Tunisia) – Club Football: Esperance (Tunisia)

The 21-year-old first burst onto the scene at the tender age of 16 when he played an integral role in Tunisia’s second round- reaching U17 squad at the 2007 World Cup in South Korea. Since then, the winger has gone from strength to strength, becoming a valuable asset for an Esperance side that he joined in 2008. 


This season has been the pacey dribbler’s most effective yet, as he scored a team-leading five goals in the “Blood and Gold’s” run to the African championship, only one less than tournament leading Fabrice Ondama of Wydad.


An under-performing Tunisia, certainly would not have made it to the second round if Youssef Msakni, had not put in two man of the match performances against Morocco and Niger. In the first game, the Esperance winger came off the bench to replace Sami Allagui and score the crucial second goal, that cushioned the Carthage Eagles’ lead, and assured them of a precious victory against the Atlas Lions.


Then Msakni picked up where he left off, this time as a starter, against the Mena by scoring a fine individual goal that will be a contender for the best of the tournament. It is no coincidence, that Lille, are now considering recruiting the youngster as a replacement for Eden Hazard.


Similar to: Eden Hazard



10. JOHN BOYE (Ghana) – Club: Rennes (France)

On 17 June 2008, Boye was called up for the Ghana Black Stars and his debut was on 22 June 2008 against Gabon. Boye was included in the Ghana national team's 23 man squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in January 2012, and made his tournament debut in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations match against Botswana. 


Controlled the heart of the Ghanaian defence; he’s a hard tackler, composed in the air and makes surging runs into the midfield.


Similar to: Kolo Toure




This article was originally published on Football Speak.




Written by Marwan Mahdi
Follow him on Twitter @Prince_Weezy


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