Just like the previous ones, Mario Balotelli once again does not feature.
GK – Petr Cech (Czech Republic)
Played brilliantly against the Portuguese, making various saves to keep the Czech Republic in the game. It’s a shame he saved his best performance of the tournament for the game in which is team lost 1-0, but he has made the team nonetheless.
Salim profiles six African players who could be making a move this summer:
Bruno Ecuele Manga
His all-round ability, particularly his aerial dominance, makes Manga an ideal signing for most English Premier league clubs.
Sometimes sheer numbers do not lie. Laurent Koscielny particularly stood out during his time at Lorient, and alerted the blind-vision of Arsene Wenger, initially because of his impressive statistics: 328 clearances and 159 interceptions - which were more than any other defender in Ligue 1 in the 2009/2010 season.
The replacement for the Arsenal-bound defender came in the form of Gabon international Bruno Ecuele Manga from Ligue 2 outfit Angers. In the 2011/2012 season, despite Lorient finishing just 1 point above the relegation zone, the Lorient defence conceded only 14 goals at home all season, the 2nd joint least in Ligue 1. Manga has continued the Koscielny legacy, just like he did in his debut season, and was second in clearances stakes in Europe with the 378 clearances in total, behind Stoke great Ryan Shawcross.
A few days ago I, Salim, unveiled the first part of ‘Meet the Potential Stars of Africa Cup of Nations 2012‘. Here, I bring it all home with the second and final part. Enjoy, ladies and gentlemen. Thank me later.
Bruno Ecuele Manga (23, Lorient & Gabon Centre-Back)
When Laurent Koscielny left Lorient for Arsenal, Lorient’s replacement for him came in the form of Bruce Ecuele Manga. What made Koscielny particularly standout at his time at Lorient, and alert Arsene Wenger, were his impressive statistics: 328 clearances and 159 interceptions - which were more than any other defender in Ligue 1 in the 2009/2010 season.
Called 'Manga' but he doesn't look like someone from a Japanese comic.
Manga has continued that legacy and is third in the rankings of the defenders with the most clearances with 10 clearances per game this season. Clearances aren’t everything, of course, and Manga’s game isn’t limited to merely clearances – he is aerially very dominant and won’t shirk a battle, his performance in Lorient’s shock 1-0 away win against PSG was outstanding. Lorient, who are 10th in the league at the time of writing, have only conceded 4 goals at home this season – the joint-lowest in the league and Manga has been an ever-present. His backs-to-the-wall defending may very well come in handy, especially if Gabon are to reach the latter stages of the tournament.
