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Rising stars 10 to watch at the African Nations CupPosted: Wednesday January 23, 2002 10:49 AMUpdated: Thursday January 24, 2002 7:41 AM By Simon Hooper, CNNSI.com LONDON (CNNSI.com) -- The African Nations Cup may not be the shop window it once was, with the continent's top stars already turning out on a weekly basis in Europe's top leagues. Closer links and exchange programs with African clubs and high-profile youth tournaments such as the under-17 and under-19 World Cups also serve a steady stream of young talent to European clubs eager to uncover the next George Weah. The Liberian striker, now 35, is Africa's most successful footballer ever, winning a French championship at Monaco and an Italian title with AC Milan. Weah is also the only African player to win FIFA's world player of the year award, in 1995. Weah's success has paved the way for other African footballers, such as Ghanaian defender Samuel Kuffour, a European Cup winner with Bayern Munich, and Kanu, the Nigerian forward who has starred for Arsenal, Inter Milan and Ajax, to play at the highest level. That means defending champion Cameroon is now able to choose an entire squad of Europe-based players, and that any player "discovered" in Mali is more likely to play his football in the lower reaches of the French game, Belgium or other footballing outposts of Europe than Yaounde. But the biannual African Nations Cup still offers a chance for the continent's players to prove they have what it takes at the highest level, as well as offering a chance to check the pulse of African football in general and clues as to which players from the continent's five World Cup qualifiers are likely to shine in the summer. CNNSI.com picks 10 players likely to catch the eye of the scouts in Mali: 1. Julius Aghahowa, Nigeria Striker Aghahowa is one of the few young talents to break into an aging Nigeria still featuring many of the familiar faces from the Super Eagles' impressive performance at the 1994 World Cup. At 19, Aghahowa joined the recent migration of Nigerian talent to Eastern Europe, signing for Ukrainian side Shaktar Donetsk. Aghahowa scored the winning goal in Nigeria's opening win over Algeria, followed by his customary somersaulting celebrations.0 2. Derek Boateng, Ghana Boateng, who plays for Greek side Panathinaikos, was the star of the Ghanaian side that reached the final of the 2001 World Youth Cup. The midfielder also caught the eye with a dynamic performance in Panathinaikos' Champions League clash with Manchester United last year. With Ghana's Nations Cup campaign seriously undermined by a dispute between coach Fred Osman Duodo and star player Samuel Kuffour, Boateng's opportunities in Mali could be limited. Nonetheless, at 18 he represents the future for the Black Stars. 3. Prince Daye, Liberia More than most, Prince Daye has felt the weight of George Weah's impact on African football, having long been burdened with the label of the "next Weah" while still playing alongside the great man up front for the Lone Stars. But with Weah now a fading force, this could be the tournament when Daye, at 23, finally lives up to his potential. Despite failing to make an impression for French side Bastia, Daye has been a consistent performer in Liberia's Nations Cup and World Cup qualifying campaigns. 4. Aruna Dindane, Ivory Coast A 21-year-old striker, Dindane made a name for himself by scoring the winning goal in ASEC Abidjan's 2000 African Super Cup final success. A move to Belgian side Anderlecht followed and Dindane's goals and dribbling skills have quickly made him a favorite with the fans. Some eye-catching Champions League performances have also raised Dindane's profile. 5. Seydou Keita, Mali The Bamako-born playmaker lived up to his billing as the host nation's star player by grabbing the late equalizer in Mali's opening 1-1 draw with Liberia. A gifted midfielder, the 22-year-old spent two seasons on the fringes of the first team at Marseille but is now making a name for himself in Brittany at Lorient. 6. Aaron Mokoena, South Africa At 21, Mokoena already has three years' international experience in the Bafana Bafana defense, having become the youngest ever South African international on his debut in 1999. A product of Ajax Amsterdam's Cape Town academy and feeder club, Mokoena moved to the Netherlands in 1999 before joining Belgian side Germinal Beerschot last year. 7. El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf, Senegal An impressive performance in Mali could earn African player of the year honors for Diouf who, at just 21, is one of three contenders for the April award (Samuel Kuffour and Samuel Eto'o are the others). Diouf earned his nomination after scoring the goals that earned Senegal a first ever appearance at the World Cup finals, as well as starring for French league leaders Lens, whose title challenge could be damaged by the absence of Diouf and Senegalese teammates Ferdinand Coly and Elhadji Pape Sarr. 8. Ahmed Hossam, Egypt Known as "Mido," the 18-year-old striker is already on the books at Ajax Amsterdam, having been named Belgium's "Discovery of the Year" after a season at Ghent. A skilful ball player and strong in the air, Hossam scored on his Egyptian debut against the United Arab Emirates in 1999 and remained a fixture in the side ever since. 9. Salomon Olembe, Cameroon The 21-year-old Olembe lends some much-needed solidity to a Cameroon side still prone to defensive lapses. Already a veteran of the 1998 World Cup and Cameroon's 2000 Nations Cup triumph, Olembe is also a dangerous attacking presence on the African champion's flank, providing a useful source of ammunition for strikers Patrick Mboma and Samuel Eto'o. Olembe was a French champion at Nantes last season but moved to struggling Marseille in December. 10. Sibusiso Zuma, South Africa The FC Copenhagen wide midfielder is already attracting the attention of some of Europe's bigger clubs after being named Denmark's player of the year in 2001, and the dreadlocked 26-year-old now looks ready to burst onto the international scene in Mali and at the World Cup.
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