Which young stars will emerge at the Africa Cup of Nations?

The likes of Baba Rahman and Bertrand Traore have had impressive seasons at club level and could be breakout players for their nations at this year’s finals in Equatorial Guinea

This year’s Africa Cup of Nations will not be short of young players looking to step into the void left by the international retirements of some of the continent’s best-ever players.

Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o and Michael Essien are among the well-known veterans who will not appear in Equatorial Guinea but exciting new generations of players should ensure Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana remain strong.

The likes of Yacine Brahimi, 24, and Nabil Bentaleb, 20, will lead contenders Algeria, while Senegal have no outfield players over the age of 29 in their squad.

Holders Nigeria and seven-time winners Egypt, meanwhile, have been caught between an old guard and a crop of promising youngsters and have failed to qualify.



Over the past week, Goal have identified some of the brightest young talents ready to make their mark at this year’s tournament or further ahead in the future.

Now, our experts have picked their best XI of stars in the making (pictured above) aged 24 or under who have been picked to play in Equatorial Guinea.

For that reason the team does not include players such as Mohamed Salah due to Egypt’s absence or Diafra Sakho, Senegal’s injured striker.

Click here to read profiles of all of the players in the team - plus many more - and watch the video above to hear our experts’ picks for the top young player at the tournament.