The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ proved to be a record-breaking tournament for Africa. All five of its representatives (Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia) won at least one game, with the Atlas Lions flying the flag especially high for the continent by finishing fourth.

Just over a year on from an unforgettable World Cup and just a few weeks after kicking off the FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifying competition with a bang, the continent’s famous five are all set to return to the spotlight at the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, where they will hope to shine once more. Hosted by Côte d’Ivoire, the tournament kicks off on Saturday 13 January, with the Qatar 2022 quintet all entitled to believe they have what it takes to lift the trophy.

In the final countdown to an Africa Cup of Nations more eagerly awaited than ever, FIFA.com looks at the upward trajectory taken by five players – one from each country – since they burst on to the global scene in Qatar.

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ proved to be a record-breaking tournament for Africa. All five of its representatives (Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia) won at least one game, with the Atlas Lions flying the flag especially high for the continent by finishing fourth.

Just over a year on from an unforgettable World Cup and just a few weeks after kicking off the FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifying competition with a bang, the continent’s famous five are all set to return to the spotlight at the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, where they will hope to shine once more. Hosted by Côte d’Ivoire, the tournament kicks off on Saturday 13 January, with the Qatar 2022 quintet all entitled to believe they have what it takes to lift the trophy.

In the final countdown to an Africa Cup of Nations more eagerly awaited than ever, FIFA.com looks at the upward trajectory taken by five players – one from each country – since they burst on to the global scene in Qatar.

Mohammed Kudus , Ghana

Though Ghana went out in the group phase at Qatar 2022, Kudus made his mark with a well-taken brace in the 3-2 defeat of Korea Republic, the first time a Black Stars player had scored twice in a World Cup match. The Accra-born attacking midfielder has never looked back since.

Though he took a few weeks to adjust to life in the English Premier League after joining West Ham United from Dutch giants Ajax in the summer of 2023, the 23-year-old had become an undisputed first choice by the end of October. Thanks in no small part to the electrifying performances of their Ghanaian talisman – the scorer of nine goals in all competitions – the London club has lost just once in their last nine league matches at the time of writing.

“I must admit I was delighted when he went there [West Ham] because I knew, particularly with the way David Moyes sets up his teams, he would put him into a structure more suited to his style of play, which is a good thing for the national team,” said Ghana coach Chris Hughton in an interview with talkSPORT.

Affectionately nicknamed Kuku by the fans, he has been producing for the Black Stars too. After playing a decisive role in their qualification for AFCON 2023, the West Ham man was an influential figure in the 1-0 defeat of Madagascar that kicked off Ghana’s World Cup 26 qualifying campaign. Though they then fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Comoros, Kudus and Co have every reason to believe they can bounce back and secure a first continental crown in 16 years.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa , Cameroon

An undisputed first choice with Cameroon at Qatar 2022, where they went out early despite a historic 1-0 defeat of Brazil, Zambo is hungry for success at AFCON 2023.

The Napoli player has grown in stature with the Indomitable Lions since Qatar and wore the captain’s armband for their first two qualifiers for the next World Cup: a 3-0 defeat of Mauritius and a 1-1 draw with Libya.

Head coach Rigobert Song has made Zambo a cornerstone of his midfield. The Yaounde-born 28-year-old has repaid that faith, taking on more responsibility in creating play and bringing organisation to the side when they switch from defence into attack with his precise passing. Blessed with superb vision and a cultured right foot, the former Marseille man has enhanced Cameroon’s game.

Zambo also had a big hand in Napoli’s Serie A win last season, their first since 1990. While their form has dipped since then, the Cameroon midfielder is looking for an upturn in his fortunes in Côte d’Ivoire over the next few weeks, and is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Pape Matar Sarr , Senegal

Unlike his colleagues on this list, Sarr did not see much action at Qatar 2022, appearing for the second half of the Lions of Teranga’s 3-0 defeat to England in the last-16 and coming on for a few minutes in the 3-1 win over Qatar. The young Tottenham player’s stock has risen ten-fold since then, however.

The Dakar-born Sarr has gone from strength to strength since Senegal’s World Cup elimination. Having found his feet with his club last season, he has broken into the Tottenham first team and has had a big hand in their push into the top five of the Premier League. Even more influential on international duty, the Generation Foot youth product is now a permanent fixture in Aliou Cisse’s midfield and will head into AFCON 2023 full of confidence.

Improving with every game, Sarr starred in Senegal’s second World Cup 26 qualifying match, scoring his first international goal in a 4-0 defeat of South Sudan. Increasingly attack-minded and at ease in the Lions of Teranga midfield, he is one very good reason to believe in a successful AFCON title defence for the reigning champions.

Azzedine Ounahi , Morocco

“Oh my God, where did this guy come from?” said the then Spain coach Luis Enrique in the press conference that followed La Roja’s penalty-shootout defeat to Morocco in the last 16 at Qatar 2022. The “guy” in question was Azzedine Ounahi who, like most of his team-mates that day, turned in the performance of a lifetime to help knock out the former world champions.

Like the former Spain boss, Olympique Marseille also fell for the charms of the midfielder, signing him from SCO Angers late last January. Having started out with Academie Mohamed VI in Morocco and made his breakthrough in French football with US Avranches, Ounahi scored on his Olympique debut – in a 2-0 defeat of Nantes – before injury forced him to miss the end of the season.

Back to full fitness and form this campaign, the versatile midfielder is enjoying life with Marseille and played a big part in their six-match unbeaten run in Ligue 1 at the end of 2023. That sequence should stand him in good stead as Morocco bid to repeat their Qatar 2022 heroics in Côte d’Ivoire.

Ounahi was on duty when the Atlas Lions claimed Brazil’s scalp in a notable 2-1 friendly win in March and scored the only goal when they kicked off their World Cup 26 qualifying campaign with victory over Burkina Faso. Also formerly with Strasbourg, an in-form Ounahi can be relied upon to push Morocco into continental title contention.

Ellyes Skhiri , Tunisia

Skhiri continues to improve and enjoyed a turning point in his career at Qatar 2022. Though the one-time Montpellier player and his team-mates exited the tournament in the group phase, they came close to reaching the last 16, following a goalless draw with Denmark and a ground-breaking 1-0 win against defending world champions France.

After four impressive seasons with FC Koln, the French-born Skhiri moved to fellow Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt in June 2023. Since then, he has had his first taste of European club competition and become a fixture in the starting XI, helping his side climb into the top six in the league and reach the knockout-round play-offs of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

On a high with his club, the 28-year-old Skhiri is also excelling on the international stage. A creative influence and occasional captain for his country, he has been in peerless form in the early stages of the World Cup 26 qualifying competition with Tunisia. His tireless midfield work came to the fore in the 4-0 defeat of São Tomé and Príncipe and the 1-0 win over Malawi, helping Tunisia become one of only seven nations to make a perfect start to the campaign.