As the curtains draw open for the AFCON tournament, attention will definitely be on a number of players who are set to retire once a winner is revealed on February 12th.
For many it will mark an end to the golden generation of some of the continent’s truly brightest talents but also the beginning for a new breed of stars who will look to carry on from where their predecessors left.
As Africa’s most iconic export, Didier Drogba could be featuring for the last time at such a high level tournament for the Ivory Coast. The 33 year old knows that in order to cap his amazing international career with the Elephants, nothing short of being crowned champions will do.
Drogba is no the only elephant that could retire. Boubacar Barry 32, Didier Zokora 31 and Kolo Toure who is 30 could all retire when the final whistle is blown.
Joining them is Malian Seydou Keita who is 32, Senegalese Mamadou Niang who is 33 and Ghanaian John Mensah. It is a shame that Cameroon, South Africa and Egypt did not make it however , their failure to qualify means that players Samuel Eto’o who is now 29, Steven Pienaar, Abou treka and Yakubu Ayegbeni join the list of potential stars who could retire form international football.
That said, it is not all gloom for the continent as there are emerging stars who are destined for greatness. Ivory Coast’s Soulimane Coulibale is a player to watch.
If you saw him play in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, then you would know what i am talking about, The youngster is simply amazing! Joining him are Ghanaians Kevin Prince Boateng, Andre Ayew and his brother Jordan and Asamoah Gyan.
Of course i cannot forget Senegalese duo of Papiss Demba Cisse and Demba Ba who i consider to be among the best striker in Africa at the moment. So who will win it come Feb 12th? We will have to wait and see. The journey starts tomorrow.