With next month’s African Cup of Nations in
Gabon fast approaching, there are plenty of clubs
planning for life without some of their prized
assets for a considerable period of the season.
That is of course particularly true of the Premier
League, with no winter break, though the majority
of leagues in Europe will be back underway by
the time the tournament kicks off on January
14th.
Here we reveal the ten top rated players in Europe
set for a leave of absence at club level to
compete for their respective nations at AFCON
2017.
Ryad Boudebouz (Montpellier / Algeria) -
Just events rating 7.47
An unheralded star of an Algerian side inundated
with talent in attacking midfield positions,
Boudebouz can play wide but has flourished in
the number 10 role for Montpellier this season.
The 26-year old has enjoyed a fruitful campaign in
front of goal this season, scoring 7 times already
having struck just twice last term, whilst
registering a modest 2 assists having created
more chances than any other player in Ligue 1
(47).
Jean Michael Seri (Nice / Ivory Coast) -
Just events rating 7.51
Elsewhere in Ligue 1, midfielder Jean Seri has
played a pivotal role in a sensational start to the
season for shock leaders Nice. The 25-year old
Ivory Coast international only received his first
senior call-up last year but should be a shoo-in
for a place for Michel Dussuyer’s pre-tournament
favourites based on form. Seri’s playmaking has
been essential to Lucien Favre’s side this season,
averaging the fifth most passes per game in
Ligue 1 (73.5) and registering at least two more
assists (8) than any other player in France’s top-
flight.
Bertrand Traore (Ajax / Burkina Faso) -
Just events rating 7.52
The fact that, at 21, Traore has amassed 30
international caps for Burkina Faso already
highlights just how important he is to the
national side in the here and now as well as the
future, having earned his first call-up at just 15!
Currently enjoying a profitable loan spell with Ajax
from Chelsea, the youngster is being deployed on
the right of a front three more often than not,
chipping in with 4 league goals. Moreover,
Traore’s pace and trickery has seen him complete
more dribbles per game (3.3) than any other
player in the Eredivisie.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund /
Gabon) - Just events rating 7.56
Captain of Gabon and poster boy of the
tournament next month, 2015 African Footballer
of the Year Aubameyang will hope to fire the host
nations to their best ever finish having reached
the quarter-finals five years ago. The rapid
Dortmund front man has been in sensational
scoring form this season after all, leading the
Bundesliga scoring charts with 15 goals, and
Thomas Tuchel will be a relieved man that
Germany’s top-flight doesn’t re-emerge from its
winter break until January 20th.
Karim El Ahmadi (Feyenoord / Morocco) -
Just events rating 7.58
An experienced head in midfield for both
Feyenoord and Morocco, El Ahmadi is key to both
and has enjoyed an excellent start to the season.
The 31-year old may have failed to make the
grade in the Premier League, spending two years
at Aston Villa, but has returned to the Dutch top-
flight and made an immediate impact. Ranking
sixth in the Eredivisie for tackles per game (3.3),
El Ahmadi has kept the ball excellently too,
boasting an 88.8% pass accuracy and even
weighing in with 4 goals for Holland’s league
leaders.
Moussa Marega (Vitoria de Guimaraes / Mali) -
Just events rating 7.60
He may have missed three Liga NOS games
recently through suspension but, following an
outstanding start to the season, Marega is still
the top scorer in Portugal. Despite making seven
of ten starts from the right wing the forward, on
loan at Vitoria from Porto, has scored 10 goals
and will hope that such form will see him earn a
starting berth for Mali next month. A conversion
rate of 38.5% this season is surely enough to see
the 25-year old add to his 9 international caps in
Gabon.
Mohammed Salah (Roma /Egypt )
7.63
The significance of the loss of Mo Salah next
month for Roma cannot be overstated, such is
his importance to the style and success of
Luciano Spalletti’s side. The 24-year old’s threat
on the break is a huge asset to both club and
country and the former Chelsea winger will hope
to translate his impressive form in Serie A onto
the international stage with Egypt. With 8 goals
and 4 assists in the league this season, Salah is
primed to build on a superb international record
and, dependent on the team’s progress, he could
make his 50th cap next month, hoping to add to
a tally of 27 goals.
Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace / Ivory Coast) -
Just events rating 7.68
Having grown frustrated of being overlooked for
England, Zaha announced his decision to
represent the Ivory Coast at international level,
which was the worst possible news for Palace
and Alan Pardew. The 24-year old is in the best
form of a Premier League career that has until
now underwhelmed, adding an end product to his
undoubted talent and threat. With 3 goals and 6
assists this season, his importance to the Eagles
is huge and with United, Chelsea and Arsenal all
to come in the next four games, Pardew could be
without his best player this season at a time
when Palace may feasibly drop into the bottom
three.
Sadio Mane (Liverpool / Senegal) -
Just events rating 7.72
The star man for a very impressive Senegal squad
tipped to go the distance next month, Mane will
hope to lead the way for his nation to secure
their first ever AFCON title. The winger’s summer
switch to Liverpool has proven to be a huge
success, earning the fifth highest rating in the
Premier League this season, with 7 goals and 4
assists to his name ahead of the Reds’ midweek
trip to Boro. Given his form at the start of this
campaign the 24-year old is one of those tipped
to light up the tournament and will be among the
favourites to be crowned Best Player next month.
Hakim Ziyech (Ajax / Morocco) - Just events
rating 7.84
Given that Ziyech is the second Ajax attacker in
this list, it’s fair to say manager Peter Bosz will
be dreading the departure of two key players next
month. The 23-year old made the move to
Amsterdam from Twente in the summer and has
quickly established himself as a key player for the
title hopefuls. Indeed, in 12 league starts the
playmaker has scored three goals and registered 5
assists, averaging both the most shots (4.2) and
key passes (3.8) per game in the league. Having
switched allegiance from the Netherlands to
Morocco last year Ziyech is sure to be a key
player for Herve Renard’s side having already
scored 5 goals in 9 international caps.
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