Africa Cup of Nations 2023: 10 players who can't be missed in the Ivory Coast

Salah's standing as one of the greatest players in Premier League history was already solidified, but he's made a strong case for the outright No.1 spot this season, recording 27 goal contributions in the same number of appearances for Jurgen Klopp's resurgent Liverpool side.

The 31-year-old is ageing like a fine wine, and he'll be determined to finally add the AFCON title to his bulging trophy cabinet after finishing as a runner-up in both 2021 and 2017. Egypt do tend to be overly-reliant on Salah, but he always embraces that weight of responsibility, and they will certainly be there or thereabouts if he can transfer his electrifying form for Liverpool to the international stage once again.

Diomande is currently attracting interest from a host of top European clubs, including Liverpool and Chelsea, which is a just reward for his outstanding displays in a Sporting CP shirt. The 20-year-old centre-back is the full package, with an imposing physical frame and elegant quality all the ball, and he looks like the ideal fit for the Premier League.

The Ivory Coast will be tough to break down with Diomande serving as the last line of defence, and he'll also play a vital role going forward. The Sporting ace is fourth for progressive ball carries in the Primeira Liga this season, and he has a good eye for an incisive pass through the lines.

Much of the credit for Sporting's rise to the top of the league must go to Diomande, who is deceptively quick and agile for a man of his stature, and a dream transfer will very much be on the cards if he can make a similar impact at AFCON.

Salah's former team-mate Mane has endured a rough couple of years, beginning with his surprise move to Bayern Munich from Liverpool in 2022. The mercurial winger was never able to settle in Germany, and left the club after just one season on the back of an explosive fall out with Leroy Sane in the Champions League.

Mane was also forced to sit out the Qatar World Cup due to injury, and Senegal missed him dearly in their 3-0 last-16 defeat to England. The Lions of Teranga will be able to call on Mane for an extra spark in attack at the AFCON, though, and they will have every chance of retaining the trophy if he's firing on cylinders.

A fresh start at Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr has given Mane a new lease of life as he's struck up a strong partnership with former Real Madrid and Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, recording eight goals and four assists in 18 league outings. Mane now has the opportunity to show he can still cut it at the very highest level, and perhaps even show Bayern they were wrong to let him go so early.

Harry Kane has stolen most of the headlines in the Bundesliga this term after his prolific start to life at Bayern Munich, but Guirassy's exploits at Stuttgart have been arguably even more impressive. The former Koln and Rennes striker has found his true home at the MHPArena, with Sebastian Hoeness implementing the best system to maximise his unique strengths.

Guirassy has hit 17 goals in just 14 Bundesliga games, helping Stuttgart emerge as genuine top-four contenders, and it has been reported that he's now on the radar of Manchester United and Newcastle. Guinea have been handed a tough draw at the AFCON alongside Senegal, Cameroon and Gambia in what looks to be the 'Group of Death', but in Guirassy, they have a weapon that no other team has - and he might just be able to inspire a historic run.

West Ham are punching above their weight in the Premier League after entering the top six at the halfway point, and Kudus has played an instrumental role in turning David Moyes' into a more efficient attacking outfit. The Ghanaian winger's £38m ($48m) fee is already looking like a bargain, leading some critics to suggest that Manchester United would have been far better opting for him over his former Ajax team-mate Antony some 18 months ago.

Moyes has described Kudus as "exceptional", and the 23-year-old has been able to strike up an instant rapport with West Ham's star frontman Jarrod Bowen that might just lift the Hammers to a record finish. The Ayew brothers and Inaki Williams currently lead Ghana's forward line, and with Kudus backing them up, Chris Hughton's side should be targeting a deep run over the coming weeks.

Minteh joined Newcastle last summer before immediately being loaned out to Feyenoord, which has proven to be the perfect environment for the 19-year-old to fast-track his development. Arne Slot's defending champions have been knocked off their perch in the Eredisivie by PSV, but Minteh has made the most of every second he's had on the pitch, scoring seven goals in 17 games.

The Newcastle loanee is a defender's nightmare; fearless with the ball at his feet and extremely direct, with bags of potential still left to unlock. It will be fascinating to see how Gambia utilise his considerable talents in the AFCON group stages, though they will also be up against tough odds in Group C.

Gambia's preparations weren't helped by a terrifying ordeal on their flight to the tournament that saw the cabin oxygen supply fail, with an emergency landing executed to prevent the players from suffering carbon monoxide poisoning, but it is hoped that Minteh and Co will still be able to make it to the Ivory Coast safely using alternative means.

Mahrez became a Premier League winner at Leicester City, but it was at Manchester City where he truly became one of the best players in Europe, terrorising defences on the right flank with his superb dribbling skills and expert delivery. The Algeria international got his hands on the one trophy that had eluded him last June as City lifted the Champions League, which he felt marked the end of his journey at the Etihad Stadium.

Al-Ahli made Mahrez an offer he couldn't refuse in the summer window, and the 32-year-old has made a strong start to life in the Saudi Pro League, registering eight goals and seven assists across the first half of the season.

Mahrez may have stepped down a level, but he's still a world-class player on his day and captained Algeria to AFCON glory in 2019 - an achievement he will stop at nothing to replicate this time around.

Red Bull Salzburg have built a reputation as a talent factory in recent years, with Mane, Erling Haaland, Dominik Szoboszlai and Karim Adeyemi among those to have used the club as a stepping stone on their way to reaching the highest level of European football. Konate could be next in line if he makes a big impact for the Ivory Coast this month, and he's certainly in great shape to do exactly that as the joint-top scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga for 2023-24.

Operating mainly from the left, 19-year-old Konate is a demonic forward with explosive pace and an eye for goal, as evidenced by his 21 percent shot conversion rate in the league, per Opta. The Ivory Coast are blessed with attacking riches, so Konate might not always be a starter, but he has the quality and footballing intelligence to give the Elephants a real X-factor.

Tottenham have enjoyed quite the resurgence under Ange Postecoglou this season, and Sarr has played a key role, nailing down a spot in the engine room in the process. The 21-year-old didn't get much of a chance when Antonio Conte was in charge, but Postecoglou saw something in him right away, and has been rewarded for his faith.

Sarr is a proper box-to-box midfielder who covers as much ground as two players, combining defensive aggression with genuine technical class on the ball to protect the back four and drive Spurs forward at every opportunity. Senegal will be confident of victory in every game with Sarr running the midfield, and a strong tournament will confirm that Tottenham have unearthed a real gem.

Last but by no means least is the 2023 African Player of the Year, Osimhen, who fired Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years last season. The 25-year-old is a master finisher with excellent instincts in and around the box and a knack for clever runs in behind defences, which is why Napoli reportedly value him at over £100m ($127m).

The Italian champions have suffered an alarming decline since the departure of head coach Luciano Spalletti, but Osimhen remains one of the most deadly frontmen in the game, and will want to get his hands on more silverware in the Ivory Coast.

Nigeria missed out on a place at the last World Cup, but they can go all the way at the AFCON with Osimhen leading the line, especially if he gets the same kind of service he got at Napoli in 2022-23.