7 key players to watch out for at African Cup of Nations 2015

The African Cup of Nations 2015 gets underway today and 16 teams are all set to battle it out in the sweltering conditions of Equatorial Guinea for the ultimate prize in African football. Although this edition won’t feature the likes of Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba, just like any other championship, the AFCON 2015 will see several marquee players playing for top clubs across Europe grace the competition, vying for top honours, with reigning African Player of the Year Yaya Toure the biggest attraction at the tournament.Without any further ado, we look at the list of the star players who’ll participate in the tournament this time around.

#7 Christian Atsu (Ghana)

Everton’s Christian Atsu is one of the best young prospects heading into the competition and will be a crucial part of the ambitious Ghana squad that's looking to strike gold.

The 23-year old was loaned out to the Eredivisie side Vitesse after signing for Chelsea in 2013, before returning to British shores, upon which he was sent to the Toffees for another loan spell.

Atsu possesses electrifying pace and is adept at dribbling at pace negotiating even the most intricate of defenses. His speed means that the left footed Ghanaian is always a danger on the counter. With some daunting fixtures against Algeria, South Africa, and Senegal lined-up in the group stages, the performances of this twinkle-toed forward will be pivotal to Ghana’s progress in the competition.

#6 Papiss Cisse (Senegal)

Following his recovery from injury, Papiss Cisse has been in blistering form for his club side Newcastle United, having amassed nine league goals in 13 appearances so far this season. The Senegalese international was also the architect of the Magpies’ pivotal win over Chelsea in the league back in December 2014, which ended their long unbeaten run.

He may be guilty of drifting in and out of matches, but his contributions to his side on any given day have been crucial. Cisse offers a huge threat going forward and is incredible in the air. Often found drifting between the centre of the park and the attacking half, the ebullient forward harbours a penchant for defensive work too, making him a valuable asset.

He made his breakthrough in the national team in 2009 and has earned over 30 caps till date, scoring 16 times in the process. His first major tournament with The Lions of Teranga came in the African Cup of Nations in 2012, where they bowed out in the first round itself. Their failure to qualify for the subsequent edition means Cisse will be participating in only his second major competition with the West Africans and will be hoping to continue his blazing form to exorcise the demons of 2012.

With Demba Ba dropping out of the squad, the 29-year old striker will be spearheading Senegalese attack.

#5 Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast)

A name no stranger to anyone, the Liverpool defender is one of the star attractions of the African showpiece and is an indispensable figure in Ivory Coast’s rearguard.

The 33-year old has had to work hard to regain his place at Liverpool this season, but is definitely one of the best Africans to have ever plied their trade in England. The towering Ivorian can outmuscle any opponent with his physicality and has the ability to make crucial clearances when his teams need them the most.

Toure made his international debut back in 2000 and has been a constant in the Ivorian defence. However, the defender needs to be on the alert as he will look to help his team go all the way in Guinea.

#4 Yacine Brahimi (Algeria)

FC Porto will have to make do without their talismanic midfielder Yacine Brahimi for the next few weeks as he will spend his time in Central Africa with the hope of helping his nation Algeria lift their second African Cup of Nations.

Born and bred in France, the 24-year old switched his international allegiance to Algeria in February 2013 and made his international debut in the same year but shot to fame after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where his immaculate performances with the Desert Warriors earned him umpteen plaudits.

A technically gifted player, Brahimi has the ability to read the game and nip off a threat in the bud. Be it his dribbling skills that help him in confusing the opposition or his passes that put things on a plate for the strikers to score, the Algerian exudes sheer brilliance, and also weighs in with crucial goals.

#3 Wilfred Bony (Ivory Coast)

The next player on our list is rising to prominence in the Premier League courtesy his performances for Swansea City and the subsequent move to Manchester City. 25-year old Wilfried Bony has made big strides in England's top tier ever since his move to Swansea and the reward was an eye-catching £28 million move to holders City this past week, which made him the most expensive African player ever in English football.

Bony galvanized the Swans’ attacking abilities with his gift of scoring goals for fun, racking up an impressive tally of 25 domestic goals in 54 appearances. Naturally, the Citizens will have huge expectations of him. His size and strength make him a marked man, but that hasn’t affected his goalscoring at all, as he uses his great movement and clinical finishing to devastating effect.

Internationally, the former Vitesse striker has represented the Elephants at the 2012 African Cup and the 2014 World Cup, but endured an underwhelming time. Now that he is in a rich vein of form, Bony has a golden opportunity to finally prove his mettle with the national side and burnish his credentials.

#2 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)

The explosive winger-cum-forward moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2013 and with just one and a half seasons under his belt, he's already emerged as one of their most influential players, and is one of the better forwards currently plying their trade in the Bundesliga.

Pace that is redolent of the Marvel action figure Flash and grit that is similar to that of a greyhound, there are very few players out there who can match his speed and physicality. The runner-up in the African Player of the Year award for 2014, Aubameyang made his international debut in 2009 and has thus far, accrued 14 goals in 38 appearances for The Panthers.

He was a colossal figure in Gabon’s run to the quarter-finals of the 2012 AFCON Cup, and will be aiming to better the feat in the 2015 edition when he’ll be leading the way for his side.

#1 Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)

Irrefutably, the biggest player at the competition will be none other than the Manchester City midfield mainstay Yaya Toure. The 31-year old was recently bestowed with the African Player of the Year honour for a record fourth time on the trot and will be the most sought after player at the African showpiece.

Toure was pivotal to City’s League triumph last term and has been in good form this season too, having scored seven goals in 19 games so far, helping City go through to the knock-out rounds of the Champions League and get close to Chelsea in the Premier League.

The midfield maestro’s skill with the ball, given his immense size and strength is commendable, while he is also gifted with raw pace and can be the worst kind of nightmare for a defender.

Having been pitted against Cameroon, Mali and Guinea in a gruelling set of group fixtures, the Ivorian will shoulder the responsibility of chaperoning his side to a best possible result and will want to live up to the tag of the being the best in the continent.