7 key players to watch out for at African Cup of Nations 2015

The African Cup of Nations 2015 gets underway today and 16 teams are all set to battle it out in the sweltering conditions of Equatorial Guinea for the ultimate prize in African football. Although this edition won’t feature the likes of Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba, just like any other championship, the AFCON 2015 will see several marquee players playing for top clubs across Europe grace the competition, vying for top honours, with reigning African Player of the Year Yaya Toure the biggest attraction at the tournament.Without any further ado, we look at the list of the star players who’ll participate in the tournament this time around.

#7 Christian Atsu (Ghana)

Everton’s Christian Atsu is one of the best young prospects heading into the competition and will be a crucial part of the ambitious Ghana squad that's looking to strike gold.

The 23-year old was loaned out to the Eredivisie side Vitesse after signing for Chelsea in 2013, before returning to British shores, upon which he was sent to the Toffees for another loan spell.

Atsu possesses electrifying pace and is adept at dribbling at pace negotiating even the most intricate of defenses. His speed means that the left footed Ghanaian is always a danger on the counter. With some daunting fixtures against Algeria, South Africa, and Senegal lined-up in the group stages, the performances of this twinkle-toed forward will be pivotal to Ghana’s progress in the competition.