AFCON 2021: Five Black Stars players to watch out for in Cameroon

• The Black Stars head to the Africa Cup of Nations amid an atmosphere of faint hopes and disbelief in the players available
• After the defeat to Algeria in a pre-AFCON friendly, many have written the team off
• However, SportsBrief looks at five players that could seize the spotlight at the tournament in Cameroon this year

The 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations begins on Sunday, January 9, 2022 and it is usually at major tournaments like this that new stars are discovered.

The tournament has produced several players that have gone on to become legends of the sport, from Abedi Pele of Ghana to Mohammed Abutrika of Egypt and Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia.

With Ghana heading to another AFCON, SportsBrief.com looks at five players, who could shine at the tournament in Cameroon this year.

After Milovan Rajevac dropped his final squad, there were some names that grabbed the attention of Ghanaians especially Fatawu Issahaku, Edmund Addo and Daniel Kofi Kyereh.

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Kamaldeen Sulemana, who will be making his first appearance at the AFCON is one of the players much talked about and Joseph Painstil of KRC Genk.

Kamaldeen Sulemana

Of all the five names to look out for, Kamaldeen Sulemana has been the standout player in Europe. The 19-year-old, who plies his trade in the French Ligue 1 has become more popular than the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in the same league.

Having joined Rennes from FC Nordsjaelland in the summer transfer window, it took less time for the teen sensation to settle at the club. His outstanding display put him ahead of Messi and in the top five list of most successful dribblers in Ligue 1.

This season, Kamaldeen has scored five goals across all competitions for Stade Rennes.

His pace, ability to take on defenders on a one-on-one situation makes him dangerous and a player to watch at Africa's elite men's competition.

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Daniel Kofi Kyereh

Daniel Kofi Kyereh is the king of assists in the Bundesliga II in Germany, where he plies his trade for promotion chasers St Pauli. His contribution this season has seen St Pauli top of the table at the end of the first round.

The Ghana international has scored five goals and provided ten assist this season.

Although, he is yet to shine with the Black Stars, he remains an asset for Milovan Rajevac.

He is expected to glitter in Cameroon due to his ability to thread in defense splitting passes, spot players in key positions as well as score goals.

Joseph Painstil

His performance in the friendly against Algeria raised many eyebrows. A lot were wondering who he really was, but Joseph Painstil in not new to the Black Stars. He has been in and out of the team and never had a better look by the different coaches.

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However, his quality has never been in doubt.

He was part of the Genk team that won the Belgium league three seasons ago, before spending last season on loan at Ankaragucu, where he finished as the club's top scorer.

He was recalled by Genk manager and has had a successful campaign so far in the ongoing season.

The Africa Cup of Nations is a perfect platform for him to glow.

Fatawu Issahaku

The darling boy of Ghanaian football. Many have compared him to the great Abedi Pele, with other saying he could be the guy to take the Black Stars to the next level.

At 17, he is one of the youngest players at the Africa Cup of Nations this year. Fatawu has had a good start to his career in the Ghana Premier League, bagging six goals in eight matches.

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His sweet left foot knows the back of the net like how he reads his palms.

Fatawu can dribble, has quick feet and ofcourse his trademark long range strikes is a plus to the team.

Edmund Addo

A player from Sheriff Tiraspol's fairytale champions League campaign. Addo played in all six group games, including matches against Real Madrid and Inter Milan. He was influential when Sheriff stunned European heavyweights Real Madrid in Moldova. They won 2-1.

Edmund Addo is a your typical destructive and creative midfielder.

He has played 13 games in the league, creating two goals and has been a key man for Tiraspol.