The best young players to watch out for at AFCON 2023

In recent years, Football has witnessed a changing of the guard. From the ending of the Lionel Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo era to the rise of Victor Osimhen, younger players have either stepped into the vacuum left by the exit of older, more established stars or simply seized their opportunity.

As Ivory Coast prepares to host AFCON 2023, the likes of Mo Salah are still going strong and are unlikely to abdicate their throne just yet. However, as Victor Osimhen’s recent CAF award win has shown, the future is now, and the opportunity is there for any young player willing to step up and take it.

So, beyond the Nigerian striker, who are the youngsters who’ve got next? Stay with us as we analyse seven exceptional players under the age of 21 who will have a chance to wow the world at AFCON 2023. And to sweeten the pot, we’ll show the high odds leading Nigerian bookmaker, BetKing is offering bettors at AFCON 2023.

Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso)

21-year-old Dango Outtara is already one of the best wingers in African football based on his explosive displays for Bournemouth and Burkina Faso.

Bournemouth splashed a club-record €22.5 million fee to sign Dango from Lorient just a year ago and he repaid their faith by helping the Cherries escape relegation last campaign. While Dango appears to have fallen out of favour under new manager Andoni Iraola this season, he remains a key player for Burkina Faso and will be key for Les Etalons.

Key stat: Ouattara has racked up seven goals and two assists in 18 games for his country. The 21-year-old will be front and centre for Burkina Faso at the 2023 African Cup of Nations where they will compete for a spot in the knockout phase against Angola, Algeria, and Mauritania in Group D.

Bet on Burkina Faso to