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Africa Cup of Nations 2013: Most Important Players in AFCON Semifinals
Published: February 5, 2013
The Black Stars took over that distinction after the Ivory Coast was eliminated by Nigeria in the quarterfinals. That said, it's been a tightly-contested tournament throughout, leaving very little margin for error for the top nations.
That won't change in the semifinals. Let's examine one player from each country that will have to shine if he is going to help his squad reach the AFCON championship match.
Nigeria: John Obi Mikel
Most of the focus has been placed on Nigeria's attacking duo of Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses, who have combined to score five goals. But the Super Eagles are winning matches thanks to strong play in the midfield, led by Mikel.
The Chelsea star is pairing with Sunday Mba and Ogenyi Onazi to control the middle of the pitch for Nigeria. Mikel, who's made over 40 international appearances, has taken on a leadership role in the midfield and is a driving force behind the team's success.
It's hard the imagine the Super Eagles making many changes to a game plan that allowed them to defeat the Ivory Coast. Expect Mikel to take on a central role moving forward, which will continue to open space for the likes of Emenike and Moses.
Mali: Seydou Keita
No surprise here. Keita, who scored Mali's only goal in a victory over South Africa, must maintain his current run of form for the Eagles to have a chance against Nigeria. His 78 appearances for the team are 14 more than any other player on the roster.
The former Barcelona isn't the dynamic option he was during his prime, but he's proven throughout the event that he can still wreak havoc in the ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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