Afcon flops: Players who have failed to deliver
Nicholas Pepe (L) and André Onana are some of the players who have failed to deliver.
Cairo- At the beginning of every major tournament, World Cup, Copa America, Euro Championship and Africa Cup of Nations, there is always a group of players who light up the occasion.
One of the major reason why Caf bowed to mainly European clubs pressure and moved Afcon from winter to summer, was to allow these African players who earn their living in Europe to concentrate with the demands of their clubs.
January to March are usually the most demanding months in European season as clubs chase for glory both on domestic front and in Europe competitions.
The Summer Africa Cup of Nations has its own challenges as some players come tired after a long season and others don’t concentrate as their agents keep knocking on their hotel rooms trying to fix deals for them.
Hakim Ziyech (Morocco/ Ajax), Nicholas Pepe (Ivory Coast/Lille), Moussa Marega
(Mali/ Porto), Yacine Brahimi (Algeria/Porto), Keita Baldé (Senegal/Monaco) and
André Onana (Cameroon/Ajax) top my list of stars who did not live up to the billing in Egypt.
Nicholas Pepe (Ivory Coast/Lille), only Kylian Mbappé of PSG scored more goals 33 than the Ivorian pacey winger.
He scored 22 times to helped Lille to finish second behind PSG. Giant clubs in Europe are fighting for his signature, as of Thursday quarter final against Algeria, has failed to perform and overshadowed by teammate Wilfried Zaha of English club Palace who started the campaign on the bench.
Keita Baldé-Senegal/Monaco, during his spell in Italy with Lazio, the Senegalese front man was regarded as the next big star. He was regarded as more talented
than Sadio Mane. His move to Monaco has been a disaster as he has struggled. He played in the opening match and scored when Mane was suspended, but failed to
hold on to first team spot.
Hakim Ziyech (Morocco/ Ajax), came into the tournament with a big reputation after a wonderful season with his Dutch club Ajax, helping them to win a domestic
double and reaching the semi-final of Uefa Champions League before losing to English club Tottenham. The 26 year-old, scored 21 goals and 24 assists for his
club. However, he failed to transform his club form to Atlas Lions. His 90th-minute penalty miss cost his side dearly as Benin upset the Atlas Lions 4-1 on
penalties in round of 16. He left Egypt without adding a goal to his 14 in 25 appearances for Morocco.
Moussa Marega-Mali/ Porto, Throughout the Eagles campaign in Afcon, he looked rusty, managed only one goal against Mauritania when Mali cruised to a 4- 1 win. He was guilty in their last 16 clash against Ivory Coast wasting many chances. He looked a different player from the one who helped his club to last eight in Champions league scoring six goals.
André Onana Cameroon/Ajax, like Ziyech his teammate at Ajax, the Cameroonian keeper was a success story last season, helping them to win a domestic double and reaching the semi-final of Uefa Champions League. His reputation as a shot stopper was tested here. He was guilty at least of two goals out of three Nigeria scored.
Yacine Brahimi- Algeria/Porto, How fortunes change very quickly in soccer. In 2014 world cup along with Islam Slimani they were the stars of the Desert Foxes, now the 29 year-old, a free agent after his Porto contract ended last month, can’t get a game.
In Afcon he has made only one appearance as a sub against Kenya.
For a player who scored 10 goals in 32 league matches, has been a flop.
