Forgotten Manchester United Man Bebe Set to Make AFCON Debut After Making Cape Verde Squad

• Bebe has been included in Cape Verde's squad for AFCON 2023
• Cape Verde have been drawn in Group B alongside Ghana and Egypt
• The ex-Manchester United switched nationalities to play for Cape Verde

Former Manchester United forward Tiago Manuel Dias 'Bebe' Correia has been named in Cape Verde's squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations next month.

The Portugal-born switched nationalities to represent the country of his parents in 2022.

Although he was expected to make the team for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which was held in Cameroon last year, he was not invited.

However, after 16 appearances for the Blue Sharks, coach Pedro Bubista named him in his 26-man squad for the tournament in Ivory Coast as spotted on social media.

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Bebe has been in fine form for Rayo Vallecano this season, scoring four goals in 15 matches across all competitions.

He is expected to spearhead the Cape Verde attack when they open their AFCON 2023 campaign with a big game against Ghana.

Cape Verde, a one-time quarter-finalist at AFCON, have been drawn in Group B alongside the Black Stars, seven-time champions Egypt and Mozambique.

Meanwhile, Bebe is likely to take advantage of the competition to remind the world of the potential that saw Sir Alex Ferguson sign him from Vitoria Guimaraes in 2010, as reported by These Football Times.

South Africa, Ivory Coast name AFCON squads

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that participating teams at the forthcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations are making final preparations ahead of the tournament, which starts on January 13.

Coaches have submitted their final squads for the showpiece and here we look at the players who will be heading to the tournament to represent their respective countries.

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South Africa will be without their key striker, Lyle Foster, who was left out of the squad due to mental health problems, while Ivory Coast will be without Wilfred Zaha.

Senegal name 2023 AFCON squad

Sports Brief also reported that Reigning African champions Senegal have named their final squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Veterans Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly headline Aliou Cisse's squad that will be on the plane to Cote d'Ivoire next month.

The Lions of Teranga will be looking to defend the crown they won last in 2022, and much of the squad that lifted that title have made the squad.