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Top five strikers to watch in 2017 AFCON
Pulse Sports’ Thomas Freemaan Yeboah runs you through the deadliest hitmen to look out for in Gabon as the 2017 AFCON kicks off
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Described as a versatile attacker capable of playing anywhere in front of a three-man attack formation as well as an attacking midfielder. He is a very good set piece taker capable of scoring direct free kicks and penalties. He has good ball control and dribbling abilities, enabling him to beat most players during one on ones. He possesses good vision, as evidenced by the number of assists he makes. In addition to his blistering speed, Aubameyang also possesses excellent acceleration, being able to reach his top speed in just a few strides. This also makes him a major threat on counter-attacks.
His greatest asset in front of goal is his impressive goal scoring form. Last season he scored 25 goals in 31 Bundesliga games, while he has 16 in 15 games in the ongoing season.
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He began his career at Milan, who loaned him to four French clubs before he joined Saint-Étienne permanently in 2011. After winning the 2013 Coupe de la Ligue Final, he joined Dortmund, where he has twice won the DFL-Supercup (2013 and 2014). Despite playing once for France Under-21 national team, Aubameyang made his senior international debut for Gabon in 2009, and has represented them at three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2012 Olympics.
Aubameyang is the darling boy of the Gabonese national team and he is expected to replicate his fantastic club form at the national level as he captains the Panthers of Gabon on home soil.
READ MORE: AFCON 2017
Asamoah Gyan
The 31-year-old Ghana skipper is known for his eye for goals and his ability to cause much trouble for defenders. Gyan is also a dead-ball expert, having scored a number of free kicks and penalty kicks for the Black Stars and at club level.
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After a successful FIFA World Cup campaign in 2010, he joined English side Sunderland from French outfit Stade Rennes, He however left Europe after just a season, following a mouth-watering offer from the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain at a time he was in his peak.
He went on to become a goal god in the Arabian football realm, top scoring in the UAE topflight on three occasions and attracting another lucrative offer from the Chinese Super League to make him one of the highest earners in world football. However, he had a poor start to his career at Shanghai SIPG due to a recurring injury, which compelled him make a U-turn to the UAE league -this time with Al Ahly Dubai on loan.
The Black Stars skipper made the headlines in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, scoring three goals, but missed a crucial penalty against Uruguay that could have sent Ghana to a historic semi-final – a feat which would have been a first for Africa. Gyan has enjoyed an impressive national team career -he is the all-time top scorer of the Black Stars with 48 goals and is 2 goals away from achieving a milestone 50 goals. He has six goals to his credit in the FIFA World Cup, making him Africa’s all-time top scorer in the Mundial. He has also bagged seven goals for the Black Stars in five AFCON tournaments, making him Ghana’s joint all-time AFCON top scorer - Osei Kofi also has seven.
However, Asamoah Gyan’s form ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations has been underwhelming, making it difficult for Ghana to fully rely on their talisman as a major source of goals, yet he showed his worth in Ghana’s warm up game against Uzbekistan giants Buyodkor on Tuesday by coming off the bench to score the match opener.
READ MORE: AFCON 2019 Qualifiers
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Wilfred Zaha
The 24-year-old’s strength lies in his explosive pace and trickery. Like most modern day attacking footballers, Zaha has the ability to play on both flanks and in a central position. Very direct with the ball, he enjoys attacking defenders and is an absolute handful for any opposing full back if he can manufacture a one-on-one situation.
Zaha is able to shoot with both feet which makes him more dangerous in front of goal. Currently he has been the most inform Crystal Palace player, having scored four Premier League goals this season, which is an improvement over his goal scoring record last season - 2 league goals.
Wilfred Zaha was a youngster who was expected to live up to the billing at Manchester United, but failed to make the mark and was sent on loan to his boyhood club Crystal Palace, where he has excelled over the past seasons.
The winger, after having represented England at the youth level and even senior level (but in friendlies), decided to switch nationalities to play for his country of birth (Ivory Coast). He was then subsequently named in the Elephants’ 23-man squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. In two warm up games against Sweden and Uganda, he has already scored once and assisted twice.
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READ MORE: Confirmed
Islam Slimani
This quick and strong marksman peaked rather late in his career. Leicester City secured his signature at a club record fee reported to be around £29 million. Slimani arrived at Leicester in terrific form having banged in 31 goals across all competitions last season for Sporting Lisbon. All but three of his goals came from inside the 18-yard box last season, showing just what a predatory number nine he really is. He has played 11 English Premier league games this season for Leicester City, scoring five goals in the process.
Slimani made his international debut in 2012 and played at the 2013 and 2015 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. He was also part of Algeria's squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he finished as the team's joint top scorer with two goals. He has won 46 international caps and scored 23 goals, making him Algeria's fifth highest all-time goal scorer.
READ MORE: AFCON 2017
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Vincent Aboubakar
Technical ability combined with his unquestionable athleticism and composure in front of goal, Aboubakar has all the attributes of a complete striker, and is a real handful for defenders. Despite his fairly diminutive stature at only 184cm, his power makes him appear far taller and his strength means that he is an intimidating presence. The young striker also boasts impressive footwork, often embarrassing opposition defenders with his close control and pacey dribbling. Despite having the capabilities to operate as a lone frontman,
The Cameroonian was signed from Lorient to FC Porto to replace Jackson Martinez, who was expected to leave the club and when the Colombian finally left for FC Porto he bagged 13 league goals in 24 appearances. Aboubakar is currently with the Turkish giants Besiktas, having scored three goals in eight appearances.
In 2010 following a good season at Cotton Sport Garoua, the coach of Cameroon called him up for the 2010 FIFA World, where he made two appearances. Aboubakar represented Cameroon at both the 2015 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
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