Six players who could make transfer moves after starring in Ivory Coast

Clubs across Europe will have been keeping an eye on the top performers at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), where the underdogs have consistently impressed.

A host of players have produced scoutpleasing performances at a tournament full of surprises and entertainment in Ivory Coast.

As the knockout stage continues, BBC Sport Africa has picked out six stars who could be snapped up by top European clubs.

Four of them are yet to play in one of the top five leagues on the continent.

And, with three aged 22 or under and the transfer window set to close on Thursday, it may not be long before their suitors begin to bid.

Named the continent’s Young Footballer of the Year in December, 20yearold Camara announced himself on the senior stage with two goals and a manofthematch performance for the defending champions in their opening 30 win against The Gambia.

It was not the first time Camara had scored twice in one game at an international tournament.

The boxtobox midfielder – a product of the Senegalese Generation Foot academy, whose alumni include Sadio Mane – was successful with 84% of his passes before the Teranga Lions were knocked out of the tournament by Ivory Coast in the last 16.

Camara joined Metz in February last year and made a name for himself in October by scoring a goal from inside his own half against Monaco in Ligue 1.

The 2.7 goals he had prevented was by far the highest of any player at the tournament at the time of the National Thunder’s last16 exit, with no other goalkeeper achieving a tally of two or more by that point.

However, the 22yearold has not featured in La Liga for club side Alaves since making his debut in February 2022, warming the bench in the Spanish top flight while making seven Copa del Rey starts across the past two seasons.

Owono could become Africa’s next big goalkeeping star – walking in the footsteps of legends such as Cameroon’s Carlos Kameni and Thomas N’Kono and Nigeria’s Vincent Enyeama.

Ashour was outstanding in providing defensive support and bursting forward to boost Egypt’s attack during their actionpacked Group B campaign.

Despite playing substantially fewer minutes than many of his teammates, Ashour still finished near the top of the standings among the squad in terms of chances created, passes, tackles won and ball carries, while only top scorer Mostafa Mohamed bettered his four attempts on target.

The 25yearold had a brief spell with threetime Danish champions Midtjylland in 2023, scoring on his Europa League and Superliga debuts after making a reported €2.6m ($2.8m) move from Egyptian side Zamalek.

He returned to the top flight in his homeland with Al Ahly last July – but could a European giant tempt him away from the reigning Egyptian champions?

The man driving Mauritania’s dream run at the finals was Koita.

The 25yearold’s bursts of speed, explosive wing play and eye for goal helped the Lions of Chinguetti reach the last 16, securing their progress with a sensational first ever win at the tournament when they beat 2019 Afcon champions Algeria 10.

Koita’s rocket of a longrange strike in their entertaining 32 defeat by Angola during the group stage will be among the goals of the tournament, and he also should have scored against Algeria after a brilliant solo run.

Born in Senegal, Koita is a regular for toptier side SintTruiden in Belgium – the country where he spent his youth career, later having a twoyear spell at former champions Gent.

Dala has scored four times to help Angola make the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010, putting him one goal behind leading marksman Emilio Nsue.

Dala’s expected goals total of 1.31 is less than half of Nsue’s, with the Palancas Negras frontman having eight shots in total and getting six of them on target.

Only Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Hany (both on nine) had set up more than the eight chances Dala had provided after his side’s fourth match at the 2023 Afcon finals.

Dala’s scoring feats in Angola as a youngster caused Portuguese giants Sporting CP to sign him in 2017, but he could not break into their first team and spent a season at Rio Ave in 202021.

Since joining Qatari club Al Wakrah in 2022 he has averaged more than a goal a game.

A youth player at Lille, he has gained Champions League qualifying and Europa League experience since joining Olympiacos in 2021 and is currently on loan to fellow Greek Super League side Atromitos.

The versatile attacker, who can also play in midfield, has already been deployed in a variety of positions by Guinea during their campaign, and spoke of his readiness to switch to the wings after he was asked to by Syli National manager Kaba Diawara during the group stage.

Compiled by Ben Miller, Emmanuel Akindubuwa and Isaiah Akinremi.

Clubs across Europe will have been keeping an eye on the top performers at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), where the underdogs have consistently impressed.

A host of players have produced scoutpleasing performances at a tournament full of surprises and entertainment in Ivory Coast.

As the knockout stage continues, BBC Sport Africa has picked out six stars who could be snapped up by top European clubs.

Four of them are yet to play in one of the top five leagues on the continent.

And, with three aged 22 or under and the transfer window set to close on Thursday, it may not be long before their suitors begin to bid.

Named the continent’s Young Footballer of the Year in December, 20yearold Camara announced himself on the senior stage with two goals and a manofthematch performance for the defending champions in their opening 30 win against The Gambia.

It was not the first time Camara had scored twice in one game at an international tournament.

The boxtobox midfielder – a product of the Senegalese Generation Foot academy, whose alumni include Sadio Mane – was successful with 84% of his passes before the Teranga Lions were knocked out of the tournament by Ivory Coast in the last 16.

Camara joined Metz in February last year and made a name for himself in October by scoring a goal from inside his own half against Monaco in Ligue 1.

The 2.7 goals he had prevented was by far the highest of any player at the tournament at the time of the National Thunder’s last16 exit, with no other goalkeeper achieving a tally of two or more by that point.

However, the 22yearold has not featured in La Liga for club side Alaves since making his debut in February 2022, warming the bench in the Spanish top flight while making seven Copa del Rey starts across the past two seasons.

Owono could become Africa’s next big goalkeeping star – walking in the footsteps of legends such as Cameroon’s Carlos Kameni and Thomas N’Kono and Nigeria’s Vincent Enyeama.

Ashour was outstanding in providing defensive support and bursting forward to boost Egypt’s attack during their actionpacked Group B campaign.

Despite playing substantially fewer minutes than many of his teammates, Ashour still finished near the top of the standings among the squad in terms of chances created, passes, tackles won and ball carries, while only top scorer Mostafa Mohamed bettered his four attempts on target.

The 25yearold had a brief spell with threetime Danish champions Midtjylland in 2023, scoring on his Europa League and Superliga debuts after making a reported €2.6m ($2.8m) move from Egyptian side Zamalek.

He returned to the top flight in his homeland with Al Ahly last July – but could a European giant tempt him away from the reigning Egyptian champions?

The man driving Mauritania’s dream run at the finals was Koita.

The 25yearold’s bursts of speed, explosive wing play and eye for goal helped the Lions of Chinguetti reach the last 16, securing their progress with a sensational first ever win at the tournament when they beat 2019 Afcon champions Algeria 10.

Koita’s rocket of a longrange strike in their entertaining 32 defeat by Angola during the group stage will be among the goals of the tournament, and he also should have scored against Algeria after a brilliant solo run.

Born in Senegal, Koita is a regular for toptier side SintTruiden in Belgium – the country where he spent his youth career, later having a twoyear spell at former champions Gent.

Dala has scored four times to help Angola make the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010, putting him one goal behind leading marksman Emilio Nsue.

Dala’s expected goals total of 1.31 is less than half of Nsue’s, with the Palancas Negras frontman having eight shots in total and getting six of them on target.

Only Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Hany (both on nine) had set up more than the eight chances Dala had provided after his side’s fourth match at the 2023 Afcon finals.

Dala’s scoring feats in Angola as a youngster caused Portuguese giants Sporting CP to sign him in 2017, but he could not break into their first team and spent a season at Rio Ave in 202021.

Since joining Qatari club Al Wakrah in 2022 he has averaged more than a goal a game.

A youth player at Lille, he has gained Champions League qualifying and Europa League experience since joining Olympiacos in 2021 and is currently on loan to fellow Greek Super League side Atromitos.

The versatile attacker, who can also play in midfield, has already been deployed in a variety of positions by Guinea during their campaign, and spoke of his readiness to switch to the wings after he was asked to by Syli National manager Kaba Diawara during the group stage.

Compiled by Ben Miller, Emmanuel Akindubuwa and Isaiah Akinremi.