10 of the Best Up-and-Coming African Players in the World Today

With the African Cup of Nations only recently behind us, I am turning my crystal ball to the future to present a list of 10 of the continent’s finest young prospects. While none of these men were able to influence the tournament just past, I am sure that at least some of them will make their mark on proceedings in the future. Note that this list is ’10 of the Best…’ rather... 

Africa Cup of Nations 2013: Winners and Losers Among the Premier League Players

Africa’s Premier Competition has long been brimming with Premier League talent, with English-based players often making it to the tournament’s latter stages. The fortunes of the Premier League contingent this time around have been decidedly mixed, while two of Chelsea’s stars added the continental championship to their burgeoning list of accolades, a number of the EPL’s other... 

Picking an African Nations Tournament Best XI

As the Cup of Nations came to its euphoric conclusion, it was the Super Eagles of Nigeria who stood tall—winning their first continental cup since 1994. A number of Naija’s young side will look back on this tournament as the one where they made their names and underlined the burgeoning revival of one of the continent’s genuine heavyweights. In this slideshow, Bleacher Report’s... 

Afcon Final: The Sleeping Giants Awaken as the Stallions Are Slain

Africa Cup of Nations history was made in Johannesburg as Nigeria’s young squad defeated Burkina Faso in the final of the continental centrepiece. The magnitude was evident to all in attendance in Johannesburg as the two teams emerged onto the field. The atmosphere was, at times, overwhelming. While both sides demonstrated patriotic euphoria in singing the anthems, it was Nigeria who were much... 

Nigeria vs. Burkina Faso: The Men Who Hold the AFCON in Their Hands

After two dramatic, engrossing semis, Africa awaits an unlikely final between Nigeria and Burkina Faso. The winner will take the continent’s highest prize, whilst defeat means the end of the road and regret that may last a lifetime. Few saw Stephen Keshi’s young Nigerian side as potential finalists, while even fewer will have envisaged Paul Put’s Burkina Faso team making it all the... 

Ghana vs. Burkina Faso: The Men Who Matter

Wednesday’s second semifinal will see the much-fancied Black Stars of Ghana take on the AFCON’s surprise package, Burkina Faso. With a coveted place in the final at stake, this West African derby is likely to be a cagey but fiery affair, with both teams acutely aware of the price of failure. Ghana may be the clear favourites, but after beating Togo in extra time and securing draws with... 

Nigeria vs. Mali: The Men That Matter

After vanquishing the favourites and the hosts respectively, Nigeria and Mali will both be quietly confident about progression to the African Cup of Nations final. At the same time, however, both will be acutely aware of the talent and threats that lie within the opposition’s ranks. In this piece, Bleacher Report’s African Expert Ed Dove profiles some of the key figures in Wednesday’s... 

Afcon 2013: South Africa Bite the Dust, as Mali Progress

For the second Cup of Nations in a row, Mali progress to the semifinals after eliminating the host nation on penalties. While Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s tears sparked a thousand images in 2012, this time around it is South Africa who endure insufferable heartache in front of their own supporters. In the early stages, it seemed almost unthinkable that South Africa would capitulate. They began... 

Afcon 2013: Ghana Advance as Cape Verde Fairytale Comes to an End

An encounter far tighter than many predicted ended with the result that several assumed, as West African heavyweights, and last year’s semifinalists, Ghana sealed their return to this stage by eliminating Cape Verde. Despite being outplayed for long periods by a Cape Verdean side that appeared to possess both more cohesion and more desire than their more-exalted opposition, Ghana managed to advance... 

African Cup of Nations: Ranking the 8 Quarterfinalists

With the Afcon Group Stages fading into the distant memory and squads rested following at least two days of inactivity, attention can once again turn to Africa’s premier competition and the eight remaining sides. Entering the quarterfinal stage, players now know that there are no second chances, no scope for slipups or complacency. However, by that same token, pressure and nerves are dulled by... 

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