Izuchukwu OkosiThe final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire is upon us and in a few hours time, the new champions that will usurp Senegal will be known.
There are players that have been exceptional in the tournament and Prime Business Africa’s IZUCHUKWU OKOSI runs the rule on the players that are likely to be Crowe a the best player after 52 matches.
1. William Troost Ekong
The on-field captain of the Super Eagles will be hard pressed to win the African Cup of Nations which would herald him as the substantial captain of the team with the imminent retirement of Ahmed Musa.
Ekong has played two penalty goals in the tournament and has produced great defensive display in six matches.
2. Victor Osimhen
The African Footballer of The Year has scored just one goal thus far in the tournament albeit two of his strikes against Angola and South Africa were ruled out due to offside by VAR.
Despite his goals not flooding in torrents, the SS Napoli striker had proven to be the live wire of the team with of without plenty goals as he provided assists for some of Nigeria’s goals.
3. Franck Kessié
The former AC Milan and Barcelona star’s has shone through in the tournament.
It was his late equaliser in the round of 16 and final penalty propelled the host to the quarter-finals stage after they struggled in the group stage.
Kessié will be vital and his midifeld battles against the likes of Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi will be key in determining whether he comes out as the best player in the Afcon.
4. Ademola Lookman
The Atalanta forward has notched up three goals in the knockout stages of the tournament and could have made it four against South Africa before the extra time of 30 minutes in the second half.
Playing as a wide player but cspapb of tucking inside in midfield, the versatile player has been one of Nigeria’s best players and in turn of the tournament.
5. Sekou Fofana
The Al-Nassr FC star on loan at Al Ettifaq is the midfield powerhouse for the Elephants at the tournament.
Fofana already made history as the first goalscorer of the tournament but his guile and creativity have been driving force for the two-time African champions in 1992 and 2015.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
