Ivory Coast's AFCON 2023: Rising Stars and Transfer Prospects

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As the excitement of the AFCON 2023 unfolds, the spotlight is not only on the thrilling matches but also on the standout players who could be on the brink of exciting career moves.

Ivory Coast has produced a crop of talented footballers catching the eye of scouts and clubs worldwide.

Top performers at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have caught the attention of clubs across Europe. Even the underdogs have been consistently impressive, making this tournament a scouting ground for potential talents.

Many talented players have shone at a surprise-filled tournament in Ivory Coast. As the knockout stage unfolds, BBC Sport Africa highlights six stars who might catch the attention of big European clubs.

Among them, four haven't played in the top five leagues in Europe yet. Plus, three of them are 22 or younger. With the transfer window closing soon, these players could see offers coming their way.

Lamine Camara (Metz & Senegal, midfielder)

Named the Young Footballer of the Year in December, 20-year-old Camara made a splash on the senior stage with two goals and a man-of-the-match performance for the defending champions in their 3-0 win against The Gambia.

This wasn't the first time he scored twice in a tournament – he did the same in 2023 against Tunisia during the Under-20 Afcon, where West Africans won by the same scoreline.

Camara, a box-to-box midfielder from Senegal's Generation Foot academy, successfully completed 84% of his passes before Senegal was knocked out by Ivory Coast in the last 16.

Camara, who joined Metz in February last year, gained recognition in October for scoring a remarkable goal from inside his own half against Monaco in Ligue 1.

Jesus Owono (Alaves & Equatorial Guinea, goalkeeper)

Owono, the 22-year-old goalkeeper from Equatorial Guinea, shone in the 2021 tournament, winning Man of the Match twice and preventing the most goals.

His standout performances helped his team reach the quarter-finals. Despite this success, he hasn't played much for his La Liga club, Alaves, since his debut in February 2022.

Nevertheless, Owono is seen as a potential future star, following in the footsteps of African goalkeeping legends like Carlos Kameni, Thomas N'Kono, and Vincent Enyeama.

Emam Ashour (Al Ahly & Egypt, midfielder)

Ashour showcased exceptional defensive skills and contributed significantly to Egypt's attacking plays in the Group B matches.
Unfortunately, he couldn't participate in the last 16 game due to a concussion. Despite playing fewer minutes than his teammates, Ashour ranked high in chances created, passes, tackles won, and ball carries.

Among his teammates, only the top scorer, Mostafa Mohamed, surpassed his four on-target attempts.

In 2023, Ashour briefly played for Midtjylland in Denmark, scoring on both his Europa League and Superliga debuts after a €2.6m ($2.8m) move from Zamalek in Egypt.

He returned to Egypt's top league with Al Ahly in July, having left the Danish side. The question now arises: could a big European club lure him away from the current Egyptian champions, Al Ahly?

Aboubakary Koita (Sint-Truiden & Mauritania, forward)

Koita, a 25-year-old player from Senegal, played a key role in Mauritania's success at the tournament. His fast runs, skillful wing play, and goal-scoring ability helped the team reach the last 16. They achieved a historic win against Algeria, the 2019 Afcon champions, with a score of 1-0.

Koita's impressive long-range goal against Angola in a 3-2 defeat during the group stage stood out as one of the best goals of the tournament. He also had a great chance to score against Algeria after a fantastic solo run.

Originally from Senegal, Koita plays regularly for the top-tier team Sint-Truiden in Belgium. He spent his youth career in Belgium and later had a two-year stint with former champions Gent.

Gelson Dala (Al Wakrah & Angola, forward)

Dala has been doing great in the soccer tournament, helping Angola reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010. He scored four goals so far, just one less than the top scorer, Emilio Nsue. In the last match, a 3-0 win against Namibia, Dala scored twice and assisted in another goal.

Although Dala's expected goals are 1.31, which is less than half of Nsue's, he has been impressive with eight shots, six on target. Dala has also created eight chances, surpassing players from Morocco and Egypt in the number of opportunities provided.

Dala's success started early in Angola, leading to a move to Sporting CP in 2017. However, he struggled to secure a spot in their first team and spent the 2020-21 season at Rio Ave. Since joining Al Wakrah in Qatar in 2022, he has been scoring more than a goal per game.

Aguibou Camara (Atromitos & Guinea, forward)

Camara played really well and scored a crucial goal in Guinea's important win against The Gambia. The 22-year-old has been a key player throughout the tournament, playing every minute in their journey to the quarter-finals.

He started as a youth player at Lille and gained experience in top European competitions like the Champions League and Europa League after joining Olympiacos in 2021. Currently on loan to Atromitos in the Greek Super League, Camara is a versatile player who can play as an attacker or in midfield.

During the tournament, Guinea's manager asked him to play in different positions, and Camara is ready to switch to the wings if needed. His performance has been crucial for Guinea's success so far.