Youcef Belaili
Attacking Midfielder – 22 Years Old – USM Alger
Though he is only twenty-three years old, most in Africa already know Youcef Belaili’s name. Three years ago ES Tunis singled Belaili out as Youssef Msakni’s replacement. With the Tunisians, Belaili became a CAF Champions League finalist and semi-finalist, but last year he decided to cut his Tunisian adventure short and return to Algeria. He became the league’s highest-ever paid player when he signed with Champions USM Alger, but Belaili has clearly already outgrown the Algerian Championnat. He has scored four goals in his last five league matches and is now eyeing a call-up with the national team in late March.
Lema Mabidi
Central Midfielder – 21 Years Old – CS Sfaxien
Lema Mabidi has crucial experience in the African Champions League after captaining his side AS Vita Club to the final last year. The Kinshasa club did not qualify for Africa’s elite tournament this season, so Mabidi moved to CS Sfaxien who deemed him a competent replacement for Gabonese box-to-box maestro Didier Ndong. Mabidi might not be as industrious as Ndong, but he possesses a powerful right peg, which can threaten opposing keepers from distance.
Kader Bidimbou
Striker – 19 Years Old – AC Leopards
Kader Bidimbou shocked many when leading the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup in scoring at the age of eighteen. AC Leopards made a deep run in the competition, as his six goals propelled them to a semi-final finish. A year of maturation will have done Bidimbou a world of good as he has grown both physically and mentally.
Natnael Zeleke
Central Midfielder – 20 Years Old – St. George
When Ethiopia national team coach Mariano Bareto travelled to Algeria for a crunch match during matchday five of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, he started Natnael Zeleke in midfield. It was a risky move that paid dividends, as Zeleke performed admirably in front of Africa’s number one ranked side. The 20-year-old is a calm, languid central midfielder with a great passing range. He is great at playing a metronomic role and dictating the tempo of a match.
El Hedi Belameiri
Winger – 23 Years Old – ES Setif
In Setif, El Hedi Belameiri has been affectionately dubbed ‘Kyukyu’ after the local appellation of a speedy, but tiny car. Belameiri was playing in the French 3rd division – at Amneville – when Hassan Hammar signed him last year. His vertiginous rise is remarkable as he scored or assisted goals in every round of last year’s campaign but the final. Belameiri finished top scorer of the 2014 CAF Champions League and made the shortlist for CAF’s African Player of the Year award.
Ramadan Sobhi
Attacking Midfielder – 17 Years Old – Al Ahly
When Al Ahly hosted Sewe Sports in last year’s edition of the CAF Confederation Cup, a 17 year-old Ramadan Sobhi wowed continental audiences with his panache and technical ability. The supernova has already amassed more than a dozen appearances with Africa’s Club Of The Century, but if he continues to perform as he has, it won’t be long before Europe’s top clubs come calling.
Kennedy Mweene
Goalkeeper – 30 Years Old – Mamelodi Sundowns
Though rumours were rife of Kennedy Mweene’s international retirement after Zambia crashed out of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, he falsified any misinformation, stating, “I still have the energy and I am still available for the national team anytime, any day”. But Mweene has won it all at international level. The penalty specialist may then be hungrier to win the CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns this year.
Roger Assalé
Forward – 21 Years Old – TP Mazembe
Roger Assalé turned heads during the CAF Confederation Cup campaign last season. The speedy Ivorian striker was linked to French sides Nice and Rennes, but finally decided to join TP Mazembe. Assalé was called up for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations by Herve Renard and the experience in Equatorial Guinea will have greatly helped his mental progression.
Salif Coulibaly
Centre-Half – 26 Years Old – TP Mazembe
Salif Coulibaly is, arguably, the best aerial defender in Africa. Standing nearly two metres tall, the Malian centre-half wins all balls lofted into the air. In last year’s competition he added an attacking element to his arsenal as well, scoring off of a corner-kick against Setif during the 2014 semi-final.
Ahmed Akaichi
Striker – 26 Years Old – ES Tunis
Though he might be out of his depth at the international arena, Ahmed Akaichi is more than competent on the continental stage. ES Tunis are nowhere near the heights they reached several years ago, but Akaichi could be the integral part of a resuscitation. The striker finished the co top-scorer during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after scoring three goals. It is to be seen if he can continue on that success in the Champions League.
Tresor Mputu
Striker – 29 Years Old – Kabuscorp
For the vast majority of his career DR Congo icon Tresor Mputu has been a fitting figurehead of TP Mazembe. Recently, injuries and controversy have ravaged Mputu’s career. After assaulting a referee, Mputu missed the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with a knee injury. A new challenge now looms on the horizon as Mputu has signed with Angolan giants Kabuscorp. Mputu is taking this obstacle so seriously that he decided to take a break from international football, preferring to focus on the CAF Champions League.
Zinedine Ferhat
Winger – 21 Years Old – USM Alger
Zinedine Ferhat was a part of Jean-Marc Nobilo’s Algerian U20 side that disputed the African championships on home soil. While most of the team looked out of its depth, Ferhat put in scintillating performances. His endurance levels are put to good use on the wing as he covers a great deal of ground attacking and defending. The young ace won a double with his side and he even played in the final of the Coupe d’Algerie. He will now experience the Champions League for the first time, which will be another milestone reached for the Algerian international, who already has a cap to his name.
