Hakimi's Race Against Time

Achraf Hakimi, widely regarded as the world's premier right-back, finished 6th in the most recent Ballon d'Or rankings – making him the highest-placed defender and top African player. He is undoubtedly the marquee attraction for the AFCON hosted in his homeland.

The captain of the Atlas Lions, who made history as semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Hakimi's image is ubiquitous, adorning countless advertisements across the kingdom. His presence had made a second Moroccan Africa Cup triumph appear almost inevitable...

However, his participation was thrown into jeopardy on November 4th during a Champions League encounter with PSG, when Bayern winger Luis Diaz executed a reckless, uncontrolled tackle that severely damaged Hakimi's left ankle.

Since that incident, Hakimi has been engaged in a desperate race against time, though he is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery to return to action.

National team coach Walid Regragui has affirmed that the full-back would be fit for the opening match on December 21st in Rabat against Comoros. Nevertheless, the tournament's 24-team format offers the flexibility to potentially extend his captain's recuperation by a further two matches without jeopardising their qualification hopes.

Mohamed Salah, the Pharaoh in the Red

A Liverpool legend and Egypt's talismanic forward, Mohamed Salah finds himself embroiled in a controversy with the Reds, a club whose history he has indelibly marked, yet where his standing has seemingly diminished.

Since 2017, the Egyptian icon has clinched a Champions League title (2019), two Premier League crowns (2020, 2025), and amassed an impressive tally of 250 goals across all competitions.

However, having been less impactful this season and benched on several occasions by manager Arne Slot, Salah ignited a firestorm in early December with a candid statement. "I feel like someone no longer wants me at the club," he asserted, potentially paving the way for a premature exit from Liverpool, despite being under contract until 2027.

While recent days have offered a semblance of appeasement, Salah must compartmentalise this turbulent period during the AFCON if he is to once again inspire the Egyptian squad to glory and finally claim a trophy that has twice slipped through his grasp in the final (2017 and 2021).

Mane, out of sight in Saudi Arabia, but still sharp

Among the trio of tournament superstars, 33-year-old Senegalese Sadio Mane is arguably the most settled. Teaming up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, he has contributed six goals and six assists in 17 matches this season. However, since his 2023 move from Bayern Munich to the Saudi championship, the forward has largely fallen off the European radar, with his impressive performances frequently overlooked.

Could this reduced spotlight inadvertently transform him into a secret weapon for the Lions of Teranga? Crucially, the national team's all-time leading scorer remains as decisive as ever. For instance, he netted a superb brace in October's emphatic 4-0 victory against Mauritania, a result that secured Senegal's qualification for the 2026 World Cup – their fourth consecutive appearance.

Before potentially featuring in a second World Cup – having missed the 2022 tournament in Qatar due to injury – Mane, spearheading a well-balanced squad that deftly combines experience with burgeoning talent, will aim to clinch a second AFCON title, following their triumph in 2021.

What about Mahrez, Osimhen, Haller?

Following a similar trajectory to Mane, Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez, now with Al-Ahli, along with Nigeria's masked striker Victor Osimhen at Galatasaray and Ivorian Sebastien Haller (currently at Utrecht in the Netherlands), all former shining lights of African football, now find themselves operating with less public scrutiny.

Mahrez himself was forced to quell a social media storm regarding his perceived dip in form just days prior.

Osimhen, though consistently decisive for both his Turkish club and the Super Eagles, will need to put aside Nigeria's failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup.

Meanwhile, Haller, the hero of Ivory Coast's triumphant home campaign in 2023, faces an anxious wait regarding his AFCON participation; he sustained a thigh injury just a week before the tournament, during the 16th matchday of the Dutch championship.

S. Haller

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