The Africa U-23 Cup of Nations wrapped up in late November, with Egypt narrowly beating Ivory Coast 2-1 in extra time. The tournament saw an abundance of young African stars make their mark for the very first time with the national team, and plenty rose to the occasion despite it being their first appearance on the big stage. The players were also fighting for a spot at the 2020 Summer Olympics Men’s tournament, with first, second, and third place respectively earning the spots to represent CAF in Japan next summer.
Ramadan Sobhi, who went on to score the winning goal in the 114th minute in the final, was unsurprisingly named player of the tournament. The Egyptian winger captained his side to the final while becoming integral in every game to the side’s attack.
That being said, before the tournament, an easy bet to pick for player of the tournament would have been Sobhi. He was by far the player at the tournament with the most experience, having played in the Premier League, and having made appearances for the senior national team at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Sobhi has spent the past few years playing at a much higher level than most, if not all of the U23 players at this tournament. It was no surprise that he was the tournament’s standout player.
Unlike Sobhi, many other players made an impact who are very new to the scene. CAF’s team of the tournament featured several players who have just begun their professional careers for their club’s first team within the past year.
Two players that particularly impressed were Mostafa Mohamed of Egypt and Aboubakar Keita of Ivory Coast. These two players were crucial in getting both their respective teams to the final. This tactical analysis will show how, throughout their tournament, they were able to show some of their strengths, which can make them a huge advantage for the senior squad in years to come.
Mostafa Mohamed
Mostafa Mohamed, 22 years old, currently plays for Zamalek, one of the biggest football clubs in Egypt along with Al Ahly.
Aerial Duels
Towering at over 185 cm, he’s often used as a target man striker, his big build allowing him the ability to win duels against the biggest of centre-backs.
