Two-time AFCON winner with Cameroon Geremi Njitap overlooked any Super Eagles stars as he named the seven players to watch out for at this year’s edition.
The 33rd AFCON edition kicked off on Sunday with hosts Cameroon coming from a goal down to beat Burkina Faso 2-1.
A brace from Vincent Aboubakar, both goals from the penalty spot, got the Indomitable Lions off to a perfect start.
Geremi Njitap
Former champions Ghana and Morocco will take to the field in Monday’s heavyweight tie.
And prior to start of the tournament, Ngitap identified players he feels will standout for their countries with no Nigerian stars mentioned.
With the likes of Victor Osimhen, Emmanuel Dennis, Paul Onuachu and Oghenekaro Etebo out, the Eagles will rely on stars like Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Samuel Chukwueze.
Despite the array of talents in the Eagles, the former Real Madrid and Chelsea defender named players like Egypt’s Mohamed Elneny, Sebastian Haller and Franck Kessie of Côte d’Ivoire, his country man Karl Toko Ekambi among stars to watch.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk Geremi said:“From the Ivory Coast, Sebastian Haller is one to watch,” said Geremi.
“He is scoring a lot of goals for Ajax this season and for me has a very good chance to win the Golden Boot at AFCON if he continues with his current form.”
“In the Senegal national team, you have to look at Ismaila Sarr, he’s going to do a lot of good things.
“He has been very good for Watford in the past few years and he is an exciting young talent.
“He is still young and it’s clear he has a lot of potential when teams like Liverpool have been interested.”
“Mohamed Elneny is also a standout for Egypt, he is an experienced player at the top level and always consistent for Arsenal when he gets the chance to play – and just as important as Mo Salah is for Egypt.”
“This could be the tournament for Franck Kessie to show the Premier League’s big clubs that he’s perfect to sign from Milan.
“He will be the heart of the Ivory Coast midfield and if they are to have a good tournament, he will have to fire for them.”
“Another one to watch is Islam Slimani from Algeria, he can do good things,” said Geremi.
“Yes, he didn’t do well at Leicester, but he is playing in France now and always a dangerous player in attack for Algeria with the service of Mahrez to feed balls into the box.”
“For my country Cameroon, I love Karl Toko Ekambi up front – he is Lyon’s leading scorer coming into a rich vein of form recently and they will miss him in Ligue 1.
“He can be a big talisman if my nation is going to try and win the tournament.”
“As for some younger players, Kamaldeen Sulemana has caught my eye for Rennes in France,” Njitap said.
“He is so quick as a winger and has the chance to be a huge star for Ghana. And he’s only 19 with a huge career ahead of him.”
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COMMENTS
I don’t pay attention to some of their opinions that are out of hate and envy..even if you overlook everybody, is it Ndidi that is so important at liecester midfield playing almost every minutes and games that you will overlook?
@Monkey fool, what exactly does Ndidi has that would make Geremi Njitab hate and envy him? That’s exactly how you guys beand us haters for airing our opinions about Rohr
Someone made his predictions and it suddenly became envy to you
LMFAO @Chinenye the last time I checked ( which was just recently) Ndidi was the 4th most valuable player in terms of financial value in Africa(behind salah, mane and marez and 54th in the world. And in terms of play, the last time I checked he was the 15th best player in the world and number 5 in the premier league. In all of this ranking either top 10, top 20, top 60, I could not see any cameroonian player’s name. Infact I saw Osimhe’s and Ndidi’s name more often in the list. So you see there is enough reason for some of this our African brother’s to hate on us under the guise of that’s my opinion. @Chinenye don’t tell me you don’t watch premier league to be doubting and just snubb his potentials and talents?
But don’t worry I understand why you are angry with me. LMAO! But just be calming down..you know we are family right? LMAO!!
No wahala. Geremi. Our boys will remind you that they’re around on the field. Remember, Mr Hayatou the bully whom Camaroon had been using against Naija is gone.
Serves Nigeria right we deserve no recognition truth be told barring Ndidi and Chukuweze Nigeria has no stars and really no player to be feared as we either leave them out or use Quota system to destroy our chances at anything Tangible. Why should Geremi respect a team captained by a mediocre aged player Ahmed Musa. Nigeria is living under a rock men. I mean if you can Prioritise Musa over Victor Moses for example then, you deserve no respect in my books period!!!!. This team has no fear factor Atol.. I mean 2 months was enough to get our ducks in a row. Ademola Lookman made 2 beautiful assists. Eze doing well Olise doing great. Instead of putting our priorities to strengthen this team. We are pushing for finished legs we Deserve no respect in Africa and should count our lucky stars if we get out of this group..
I mean all this bad luck we are experiencing just before Afcon i.e injuries covid, late submission of players is as a result of the injustice in squad selections in SE. I see some people insulting Dennis forgetting that the bastard in the room is Amaju Melvin Pinnick.
Mumu talk…i don’t understand this sentiment and quota system… If the player you like is not invited it is quota system.. Are you the coach… Who ever he invites is who he believes can get the job done.. If you know better go and apply to be super eagles coach..if a player plays well for his club does it mean he’s national team material.. Take example of Paul onauch.. Most of you have condemn him for the national team cause he can’t reprocrate his form for club side in the national team.. Simi wanfor was the same.. Every time is Musa that the coach chose to be part of the team that is a problem.. If you have never coach a team before.. Please don’t stay in your house and conclude on the people doing the job..
Okay we shall see nah, shebi you get sense pass me right/. Oya mark this comment. Yeye Mumu @Emepror
Beg shut up your mouth , it seems you don’t even know the pkayers and football?..Is Lookman, Eze and Olise eligible for Nigeria?..you just want to talk abi?..abeg leave our super eagles alone , we know the last time keshi won it there was no big name in the team and mostly local players !
He has a right to his opinion just like everyone else.
Time will show if he is right or wrong
@Sportsfan you for no even reply this guy sef. Leave him na so our people go dey use other people as scape goat instead of pointing finger at the real suspects. For this Mumu @Emperor to say Musa can do the job shows he has either been living under rock or he is as clueless as the clueless people running our ball. You for no even waste your breathe on this yeye mugu wey dey form as Emepror.
Ugo Iwunze or what do u call yrself stop hate speech, people like u have killed this country for a long time, what is yr problem with ahmed musa? when the guy was performing for Nigeria where are u Ahmed musa have made a lot of sacrife for Nigeria allowed him to enjoy himself the guy always perform for Nigeria whenever he is called upon even in the last practice match against conton sport he score what else do you want from him. every country respect their captain if u shld go back to history stephen Keshi went to Tunisia 94 not on merit but as captain via USA’94 and also Onigbinde took mutiu Adepoju to Korea 2002 not on merit but because is his brother and also Joseph Yobo went Nation cup 2013 under stephen keshi not on merit but becuase he is the captain while did Ahmed own become your problem or is it because of your hatred towards the Northerner? fear God ooh
So are you prioritising merits for inferiority just to justify a tradition that keeps robbing us of youthful talents?So we should swap youthfulness for old and weak in the sake of keeping an old absurd tradition that’s only practiced in Nigeria.
I hope Musa justifies his inclusion tomorrow because recent games for Nigeria wasn’t good enough.
On merit he shouldn’t be in the team ahead of an Amoo who had a very good season a player that would have benefited from his involvement in the Afcon an experience that would be to Nigeria’s advantage for years to come.
That tradition should be scrapped!
A national team invitation is for the best legs available no sentiments should be encouraged.
@Greenturf not just that AFCON 2022 would have been a good Place for Amoo to showcase his skills and maybe get a Bigger Club quicker as all the Major scouts for Big clubs in World Football will be there to scout for African Talents yet Nigeria is Pushing Musa to 200 caps For WHAT??. and yet some imbeciles are supporting some sordid tradition. If my memory Serves me correctly Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was at the forefront of the Division in the squad in 1994 the same Division that resulted in us losing to an Italian squad in a match we practically had in the bag. Clements Westerhof asked the boys to clear the ball long as the game was already won, But a faction in the team headed up by Keshi decided not to listen to the coaches instructions. Leave some Nigerians alone that is why our country will remain Jaga Jaga..
Thank you @Greenturf you sabi no be small.
God bless you @Emperor May your days be long. I have been singing this thing like hymn since in this forum. But they all call me moron etc.. And I don’t know why @Ugo Iwunze like using quota system as the only reason why a player is selected.
And who told you that the coach priorities Musa to victor moses. Oga Victor Moses willingly retired from the team is as simple as that. All those coming back from retirement were all rumors. Did you hear it from his mouth? So please stop spreading rumors.
LMAO!@Ugo Iwunze Confused as ever! LMAO!Who told you @Sportsfan was referring to @Emperor. LMFAO! He was referring to the snubing from the cameroonian legend. So for your mind he was criticising @Emperor for shuting you up? LMAO. Una no go kill me for this forum. LMFAO!
And that comment from @Sportsfan has been there long before @Emperor’s subtle shade on your ass. LMAO! Longer before you even made yours. LMAO..next time try to go through some of the comments that were there before you make yours, so as to know where to come in(in terms of contributions). Don’t just jump in. It will help your analysis..LMAO! Walahi una too funny for this forum. LMFAO!