As the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway in Cameroon, we take a look at how the three Premier League stars have performed previously in the tournament.
The Africa Cup of Nations is made up of 24 teams, split into six groups of four. The tournament gets underway on 9 January, with hosts Cameroon kicking things off against Burkina Faso. Reigning champions Algeria are arguably the team to beat in this year’s competition. Following their recent Arab Cup victory, they are on a phenomenal 39-match unbeaten run and head to Cameroon confident of defending their title.
Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez is the star of the show but they have bags of talent elsewhere in the side, with AC Milan’s Ismael Bennacer, West Ham’s Said Benrahma and the experienced trio of Islam Slimani, Sofiane Feghouli and Yacine Brahimi all gunning for glory.
Mahrez's AFCON record
Pep Guardiola and City will lose their tricky forward this month as he looks to win another African title. Mahrez won the trophy in 2019. Bennacer was named as the Player of the Tournament when Algeria claimed the title last time out, but there is no doubt that Mahrez is the country's star player. The title win in 2019 was Algeria's second ever and first since 1990. Mahrez will be hoping to add another gold medal this winter.
Egypt and Mo Salah
The Pharaohs have won the tournament seven times and are the most successful team in the history of AFCON. In attack, they have arguably the best player in the world right now, Mohamed Salah. Led by former Manchester United coach, the experienced Carlos Queiroz, they will be well organised, but will they have enough to win their eighth tournament? Egypt haven't won the tournament since 2010. Salah didn't make his debut for the Egypt national football team until September 2011 and is therefore looking for his first silverware with his home nation.
Sadio Mané and Senegal
Senegal have never won an Africa Cup of Nations tournament and they will be hoping that this time around things will be different. With Édouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly, they are expected to be solid at the back. Sadio Mané is their main man going forward. The Liverpool player will be hoping to win his first ever AFCON trophy. Mané accounts for more than 60 per cent of all the goals in Senegal’s squad and is their key man in attack.
Senegal have played in the tournament on 16 occasions but as we previously mentioned, they have never lifted the trophy. Don't rule them out of winning it this year. Senegal have a great squad and are tipped by many to win the trophy. Can they go one step closer this year after losing last year's final to Algeria?