Algeria - Mourad Meghni
Few French-born playmakers have not been likened to Zinedine Zidane, but in this case the comparison is helpful. The 25-year-old attended France’s Clairefontaine academy at the same time as Sébastien Bassong and Abou Diaby. A shrewd user of the ball Photograph: Louafi Larbi/guardian.co.uk
Algeria - Mourad Meghni
Few French-born playmakers have not been likened to Zinedine Zidane, but in this case the comparison is helpful. The 25-year-old attended France’s Clairefontaine academy at the same time as Sébastien Bassong and Abou Diaby. A shrewd user of the ball Photograph: Louafi Larbi/guardian.co.uk
Angola - Manucho
Something of a curio after his brief and unsuccessful spell at Manchester United – three appearances and half a season on loan at Hull – but you could see what Sir Alex was getting at. Now with Valladolid in La Liga, the striker has been short of goals but can still be a handful Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/guardian.co.uk
Malawi - Swadick Sanudi
If for little other reason than the fact he is likely to be kept busy in Angola, Sanudi, the Malawi goalkeeper, should catch the eye. Sanudi, who plies his trade in South Africa with the Dynamos, fell out with Malawi’s then manager Stephen Constantine in 2007, but has returned to the international fold and is now the undoubted first choice. Photograph: Issouf Sanogo/guardian.co.uk
Ghana - Dominic Adiyiah
>Signed last month by Milan after emerging from Feyenoord’s Ghanaian academy and being “parked” in Norway, the striker was top scorer and voted best player at last year’s Under-20 World Cup. Could bring a cutting edge to a Ghana side traditionally built on physical power. Photograph: Thanassis Stavrakis/guardian.co.uk
Ivory Coast - Gervinho
The Lille striker leads the Ligue 1 scoring lists with 11 goals. May struggle to start with Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou already in the side but, as Gervais Yao Kouassi’s flashy Brazilian pseudonym suggests, he has the pace and skill to threaten any defence. Photograph: Noriko Hayakusa/guardian.co.uk
Burkina Faso - Bakary Kone
At just 21, the defender is showing promise in France’s Ligue 2 with Guingamp. At 6ft 2in, he does not lack physical presence but the collective strikeforces of Burkina Faso’s Group B rivals will provide a daunting challenge. Photograph: guardian.co.uk
Egypt - Shikabala
The Zamalek playmaker continues to pull the strings for one of Egypt’s premier teams despite enduring a somewhat rocky season by his standards. His qualities have not gone unnoticed with Napoli reportedly interested in taking him to Serie A, and at 23 he could add to his growing reputation in Angola. Photograph: Abdel Rahman Youssef/guardian.co.uk
Nigeria – Taye Taiwo
At 24 already a stalwart for his country and club, the Marseille left-back is highly regarded for his urgent, powerful defending and a thumping shot from open or set play. Arguably the best player in his position outside Europe’s top three leagues, he has attracted interest from Liverpool Photograph: Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP/Getty Images
Mozambique - Simao
Highly regarded at Greek team Panathinaikos, the defensive midfielder’s composed performances in the centre of midfield have not gone unnoticed. With experience of Champions League football, the 21-year-old will be a vital player for Mozambique. Photograph: Sayyid Azim/guardian.co.uk
Benin - Stephane Sessegnon
A star in French football for Paris St Germain, he has been linked several times with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea. At 25 there is plenty to come from the midfielder who will be the lynchpin of the Benin midfield. Photograph: Themba Hadebe/guardian.co.uk
Cameroon - Nicholas N’Koulou
An athletic, 19-year-old central defender, left-back or right-back with a fierce shot who has already been scouted by a number of Europe’s leading clubs. His form for Monaco has been generally good, although lapses of concentration are not uncommon Photograph: Michael Steele/guardian.co.uk
Zambia - Rainford Kalaba
One of the few Zambian internationals to ply his trade in Europe, Kalaba joined the Portuguese team Braga in 2008, though first-team appearances have been hard to come by for the diminutive playmaker Photograph: Salim Henry/guardian.co.uk
Tunisia - Aymen Abdennour
A recent addition to the Tunisian line-up, the 20-year old left-back Abdennour has caught the eye with his domestic performances for Etoile Sportive du Sahel which earned him a recent trial with Werder Bremen. Photograph: Fethi Belaid/guardian.co.uk
Gabon- Pierre Emerick Aubameyang
The Milan forward is the son of former Gabon international Pierre Aubameyang and switched to representing Gabon having played for the France under-21 side. Currently on loan at Lille, he has been utilised mainly as a substitute but he did score for Gabon against Morocco on his debut so they will be hoping from more of the same in Angola. Photograph: Christian Liewig/guardian.co.uk
