An abundance of talent will be on show over the course of the next month or so, and we have listed some eye-catching defenders to watch at the Africa Cup of Nations 2023.
Defenders to Watch at the Africa Cup of Nations 2023
Edmond Tapsoba – Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s Edmond Tapsoba is likely to be THE defender to watch at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
His strength, speed and power have been on full show for Bayer Leverkusen this season, and despite being at the club for just under four years, he is shining brightest under the stewardship of Xabi Alonso.
Often operating as part of a defensive three, Tapsoba has featured prominently for the Bundesliga table-toppers who have conceded just 12 goals in 16 games so far, ranking them among the most stout backlines in Europe. Their security at the back, of which Tapsoba plays a vital part, is one of the reasons many observers expect Bayer Leverkusen to win the Bundesliga this season.
A modern defender in every sense, Tapsoba is the type of commanding yet ‘clean’ presence that appears to be the prevailing profile in the centre-back market; very rarely is he caught on the ball or dribbled past.
A potent blend of defensive acuity and ball-playing ability, his season averages of 93% pass completion and 2.5 completed long balls accompany his six-foot-four frame, making him the optimal stater in Alonso’s possession-oriented system.
He will be key to Burkina Faso’s chances of shaking their ‘nearly’ label, which has seen them finish fourth and third at the previous two editions of ACFON.
Ousmane Diomande – Ivory Coast
Host nation Ivory Coast have one of European club football’s most sought-after defenders in their ranks, and on home soil this month the Elephants faithful are expectant.
Ousmane Diomande will be instrumental if they are to return to the heights of African football. His performances at Sporting Lisbon have some of Europe’s elite clambering for his signature, with Arsenal transfer rumours this week linking him with a move to north London.
For now, the 20-year-old will be focused on representing the Ivorians for the first time at an international tournament. A key feature in Sporting’s possession-heavy side, Diomande has a strong reputation for playing out from the back.
🚨 Arsenal are in contact with Ousmane Diomande’s family as they try to set up deal. 🇨🇮 (@SportsPeteO) pic.twitter.com/uBXSkGTTqs
— Le African Gooner (@leafricangooner) January 1, 2024
He averages a pass completion rate of just over 90% per-game, and more impressively, he has an average of 5.77 progressive passes per-90 over the past year.
Likened to the profiles of Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasi – who have shown their astuteness as both centre-backs and wing-backs – it comes as no surprise to see Arsenal linked with a player of his varied skillset.
Nayef Aguerd – Morocco
West Ham’s Nayef Aguerd has been a regular feature for Morocco at recent tournaments, helping them reach the quarter-finals at AFCON 2021 before bettering that with a remarkable fourth-placed finish at the World Cup a year later.
Although there have been worrying West Ham transfer rumours linking him with a move to Saudi Arabia this week, the 27-year-old is in the midst of his peak years and has been one of their standout performers since joining two years ago.
He has featured in 83% of the Hammers’ Premier League campaign this term, helping them to reach the top six at the close of 2023.
He heads to the Ivory Coast as one of the best defenders at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, and a leading figurehead amongst what AFCON betting sites have as the tournament’s second-favourites.
Evan Ndicka – Ivory Coast
Evan Ndicka surprised everyone when he opted to swap Eintracht Frankfurt for Roma last summer. Now 24, he remains one of the most promising young centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues, and prior to his move to the Italian capital, was high on the shorlists of Manchester United, AC Milan and Arsenal.
Roma moved quickest to snap him up on an opportunistic free transfer, and he has repaid their faith as one of the few shining lights in a frustrating season of highs and lows in Rome. Manager Jose Mourinho was quick to single Ndicka out as one of the best players on the pitch as they fell to Juventus last time out, lauding his “evolution” so far.
Ndicka wow , what a stop pic.twitter.com/l3XWNj1Ucy
— Richard Matthew (@richardsartey) December 30, 2023
His services have been highly sought-after given he is a naturally left-sided centre-back with the ability to slot in at left-back. He possess pace in abundance and a true presence on the ball, averaging just over three progressive passes per-90.
24 is far from the peak years of a centre-back, and Ndicka is perfectly poised to make the step up to an elite side in the near future. For now, he will turn his attention to pushing for silverware as his nation hosts AFCON.
Having represented his birth nation France right up to U21 level, he only made his debut for the Ivorian side in September 2023. However, he is undoubtedly a welcomed addition to a team who have struggled in the wake of their ‘Golden Generation,’ and will likely partner Nottingham Forest‘s Willy Boly at the heart of the defence.
Hamari Traore – Mali
Last, but by no means least, we have included Mali’s Hamari Traore in our list of defenders to watch at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The tendency in this article so far has been to spotlight some of the younger gems who are rising to prominence in Africa at this moment in time, but Traore will turn 32 whilst featuring at AFCON 2023.
The Malian team is full of budding young gems, who will be led by their charismatic captain Hamari Traore. The former Rennes right-back is no stranger to the leadership position having captained the Ligue 1 side prior to his exit last summer. He was instrumental in bringing the club their first major piece of silverware in over 20 years in 2018-19.
After cutting short his six-year spell at Rennes, Traore opted for a drastic career change by joining up with Real Sociedad, where he has started 90% of their La Liga campaign so far.
La Real have also set up a round of 16 tie with PSG in the Champions League, so Traore’s decision for a career change has been more than vindicated.
As he leads out his nation in their final warm-up game before AFCON, he will mark a half-century of caps for Mali.
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