A stage for scouts, a runway for careers
The Africa Cup of Nations is more than a trophy hunt; it’s a global marketplace where talent is priced, reputations are remade, and transfer rumours are born.
For some players, AFCON is a spotlight, a month-long audition in front of scouts, sporting directors and rival clubs.
Below are 10 players who could turn AFCON 2025 in Morocco into their personal showcase, using the tournament to spark moves, revive careers or finally step up to the next level.
1. Karl Etta Eyong
Karl Etta Eyong arrives as the tournament’s hottest prospect, a 22-year-old forward whose Levante form has sent Europe into a frenzy. Linked with the continent’s biggest clubs and reportedly the subject of seven-figure bids, he combines clever link-up play with raw finishing; the kind of package that turns AFCON minutes into transfer headlines.
2. Yves Bissouma
Yves Bissouma is playing for more than pride; he’s playing for a way out of a stalled spell in North London. Once a midfield engine, the Mali captain needs a commanding tournament to remind suitors he still controls games, recapture his market value and force a fresh start away from the Tottenham Hotspurs bench.
3. Carlos Baleba
Carlos Baleba arrived at Brighton with a reputation as a midfield dynamo — then the transfer noise seemed to unsettle him. AFCON 25 offers Baleba a reset: a chance to show the composure, range and box-to-box energy that once had giants circling, and to prove he’s still worth the summer hype.
4. Noah Sadiki
Noah Sadiki is a 20-year-old who has already become Sunderland’s midfield heartbeat and now carries the hopes of DR Congo. Calm under pressure and deceptively influential, Sadiki could use AFCON to convince top clubs that his Premier League-ready performances are no fluke.
5. Samuel Chukwueze
Samuel Chukwueze is rediscovering his spark in England at Fulham FC, and he is hoping to trigger a post-AFCON bidding war. The wideman’s recent streak of goal contributions has reignited interest; a dazzling tournament would not only secure a permanent move but also attract clubs with deeper pockets.
6. Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman arrives with unfinished business. The 2024 African Footballer of the Year still has the pace and invention to unsettle defences, and AFCON is the perfect stage to remind Europe why he once lit up Serie A — and why a new chapter should be written away from Atalanta’s unrest.
7. Tochukwu Nnadi
Tochukwu Nnadi is the surprise inclusion with the engine room grit that scouts adore.
The 22-year-old’s relentless work rate and fearless tackling for Zulte Waregem have earned him a national call-up; a standout AFCON could turn those watching into buyers from the Premier League and beyond.
8. Yan Diomande
Yan Diomande is the teenage whirlwind tearing up Bundesliga defences for RB Leipzig. A recent hat-trick announced him to Europe; AFCON gives Diomande a chance to translate that club form into international stardom and accelerate interest from elite suitors.
9. Mamadou Sangare
Mamadou Sangare has been a revelation for Lens, blending physicality with technical poise in a title-chasing side. At 23 he’s already on the radar of England’s biggest clubs; a commanding AFCON would confirm he’s ready for a step up and could trigger a lucrative move next summer.
10. Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah remains the tournament’s headline act and the most-watched man in Morocco. With his recent falling out with Liverpool FC Coach Arne Slot and a makeup before Salah left for Morocco, transfer rumours are still alive for the midfielder. Beyond the goals and the legacy, Salah’s AFCON will be a transfer litmus test: strong performances could reset his club future and turn speculation into concrete offers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey or MLS.
The transfer window in miniature
AFCON is a condensed transfer window where a handful of standout performances can rewrite a player’s trajectory. These ten names arrive with different stories; some seeking redemption, others chasing elevation — but all share one aim: to turn national duty into a career-defining showcase.
