Sports

Bundesliga players at the Africa Cup of Nations

Bayer Leverkusen – Odilon Kossounou & Edmond Tapsoba

Leverkusen lose defenders Odilon Kossounou (pictured) of Ivory Coast and Edmond Tapsoba of Burkina Faso. Kossounou has become a key player for the Elephants since making his debut in 2020. They aim to win their third African title, while Burkina Faso chase their first.

Bundesliga players at the Africa Cup of Nations

Hoffenheim – Diadie Samassékou

Just one Hoffenheim player is at the Africa Cup of Nations, Mali's Diadie Samassekou (above). Defender Kevin Akpoguma, a former Germany U20 captain, was not selected by Nigeria after making his debut in 2020. Kasim Adams Nuhu was also not considered by his national team Ghana.

Bundesliga players at the Africa Cup of Nations

RB Leipzig – Amadou Haidara and Ilaix Moriba

The Red Bulls sent midfielders Amadou Haidara (pictured) of Mali and Ilaix Moriba of Guinea to the AFCON. Haidara made his international debut in 2017 and will assist in the perennial West African underdogs' efforts to reach the final in Yaounde on February 7. Moriba recently changed his allegiance from Spain to Guinea, where he was born.

Bundesliga players at the Africa Cup of Nations

Union Berlin – Taiwo Awoniyi

Union Berlin are losing leading goalscorer Taiwo Awoniyi (pictured above, right) to the Africa Cup of Nations, where he will play for three-time champions Nigeria. With nine goals in 17 Bundesliga games before the winter break, Awoniyi will be sorely missed by the capital club.

Bundesliga players at the Africa Cup of Nations

Cologne – Ellyes Skhiri

Skhiri returned from his last game on international duty in October with an injury that ruled him out for Cologne until the winter break. He is back now as a key player for Tunisia, who are looking to add to their only AFCON title win in 2004.

Bundesliga players at the Africa Cup of Nations

Eintracht Frankfurt – Aymen Barkok

For a player who’s had a troubled season so far, the Africa Cup of Nations could not have come at a better time. Aymen Barkok is a part of a Morocco squad hoping to win their second title after 1976. The Frankfurt native has fallen out of favor at Eintracht Frankfurt and could be looking to win over new suitors in Cameroon.

Bundesliga players at the Africa Cup of Nations

Borussia Mönchengladbach – Ramy Bensebaini

Mönchengladbach's Ramy Bensebaini is in Cameroon to help defend Algeria's Africa Cup of Nations title. The only African champion in the Bundesliga, Bensebaini played in six of the Desert Foxes' seven games when they won the 2019 championship in Cairo.

Bundesliga players at the Africa Cup of Nations

VfB Stuttgart – Omar Marmoush

Omar Marmoush only made his Egypt debut in 2021 but is already part of coach Carlos Queiroz's plans as the Pharaohs fight for an eighth Africa Cup of Nations title. Stuttgart could be without their on-loan striker for four weeks if the Egyptians, a pre-tournament favorite, go as far as the final on February 7.

Bundesliga players at the Africa Cup of Nations

Paderborn – Jamilu Collins

The Bundesliga 2 defender will be part of the Nigerian squad at the tournament. It is the second time Collins will make an appearance at the AFCON after finishing in third place with the Super Eagles in 2019.

Bundesliga players at the Africa Cup of Nations

St. Pauli – Daniel Kofi Kyereh

Daniel Kofi Kyere was first called up to Ghana's national team in September 2021 for their World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia. He will be a big miss for second-tier side St. Pauli, who are chasing promotion to the top division of the Bundesliga. He scored five goals and nine assists before the Bundesliga 2 began its winter break.

Author: Lolade Adewuyi

Players to watch during the Africa Cup of Nations

Franck Kessié - Ivory Coast

Franck Kessié is the boss of the Ivory Coast midfield. He is also an important player at AC Milan, his club since 2017. His calmness, his vision and his leadership will be assets for the Ivorians.

Players to watch during the Africa Cup of Nations

Edmond Tapsoba - Burkina Faso

Despite a big injury that kept him off the field for several months, the Bayer Leverkusen player is one of the most courted defenders in Europe. Edmond Tapsoba is the leader of Burkina Faso's defense, which will do everything to repeat 2013's run to the final.

Players to watch during the Africa Cup of Nations

Kamaldeen Sulemana - Ghana

The Ghana international has the makings of being a star. Currently at Rennes, Sulemana is being tracked by some of Europe's biggest clubs. His enthusiasm, speed and touch will bring a breath of fresh air to a Ghana team looking for a resurgence in Cameroon.

Players to watch during the Africa Cup of Nations

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

Choupo-Moting has become a leader of the Cameroon team, having not made himself available at times in the past. Despite being a reserve at Bayern Munich, the striker remains an important cog in the Cameroonian wheel. At 32 years old, he will be one of the most experienced players in the squad.

Players to watch during the Africa Cup of Nations

Sébastien Haller - Ivory Coast

Brilliant for Ajax Amsterdam this season, especially in the Champions League, Sebastien Haller will be the leader of the Ivory Coast attack. The former Eintracht Frankfurt player only made his debut for the Elephants in 2020.

Players to watch during the Africa Cup of Nations

Edouard Mendy - Senegal

Senegal's Edouard Mendy has established himself as the uncontested no. 1 at Chelsea since his arrival from Rennes in 2020. He won the Champions League with the Blues in 2021. He is now widely known as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Players to watch during the Africa Cup of Nations

Riyad Mahrez - Algeria

Captain of defending champions Algeria, Riyad Mahrez will hope to be at the top of his game during this AFCON. He has produced some less than convincing performances in the last few months for his country, but Algeria fans expect him to replicate his Manchester City form on the big stage.

Players to watch during the Africa Cup of Nations

Karl Toko-Ekambi - Cameroon

Karl Toko-Ekambi is having a good season with Olympique Lyonnais. He also scored the goal that sent Cameroon to the African playoffs for the 2022 World Cup. His speed and liveliness give him a unique profile within the Indomitable Lions. He could be one of the breakout stars on the international stage.

Players to watch during the Africa Cup of Nations

Mohamed Salah - Egypt

Mohamed Salah has been in superb form with his club Liverpool. He finished in seventh place in the Ballon d'Or 2021. He won the African Ballon d'Or title in 2017 and 2021. His goal will be to bring Egypt an eighth continental title.

Players to watch during the Africa Cup of Nations

Amadou Haidara - Mali

Amadou Haidara has become a key midfield presence for German club RB Leipzig. He fulfils a similar role for the Eagles of Mali, who are among the outsiders at this year's Africa Cup of Nations.

Players to watch during the Africa Cup of Nations

Islam Slimani - Algeria

Islam Slimani is always involved for holders Algeria, even if he is now mainly a substitute for club Olympique Lyonnais. Coach Djamel Belmadi knows that he can count on his striker, the top scorer in Algeria's history with 38 goals.

Author: Delali Sakpa

Major sporting events of 2022

Australian Open

The first tennis Grand Slam of 2022 starts on January 17, but it remains unclear whether Novak Djokovic will defend his title. In January, Tennis Australia said the Serbian, who has not been vaccinated, had been granted a medical exemption following a "rigorous review process." That process has since broken down as he now finds himself waiting on a final verdict regarding his visa status.

Major sporting events of 2022

2022 Winter Olympic Games

The Winter Games in Beijing, which are to open on February 4, have been controversial from the moment the city was named host in 2015. Alleged widespread human rights abuses have led to the United States and some of its allies declaring a diplomatic boycott of the Games. The COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions to be implemented during the Olympics are also threatening to cast a dark cloud.

Major sporting events of 2022

Super Bowl LVI

The National Football League's championship game, 54th edition, is one of the single most-watched sports events in the world, with millions of even non-NFL fans tuning in all over the globe. As anticipated as the action on the field is the halftime show, which on February 13 is set to feature rap and R&B icons Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and Snoop Dogg.

Major sporting events of 2022

Formula 1

The 2022 F1 season begins on March 20 with the Bahrain Grand Prix. New rules and technical changes are being introduced in an effort to narrow the gap between the top tier and weaker teams. Not that the 2021 season wasn't exciting. Will we see another close battle between champion Max Verstappen (left) and Lewis Hamilton (right)? Or could a third driver find his way into the mix?

Major sporting events of 2022

Ironman World Championship

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ironman World Championship won't be held in Hawaii in October for the first time since 1978. Instead, the 3.86-kilometer swim, 180.2-kilometer bike ride and 42.2-kilometer run will be held on May 7 in St. George, Utah.

Major sporting events of 2022

Tour de France

The 109th edition of the world's biggest cycling race will open with an individual time-trial in Copenhagen on July 1. The following two stages will also be in Denmark, before the riders are transferred to France for the rest of the 3,328-kilometer race. Tadej Pogacar dominated the 2021 Tour. Will the Slovenian ride up the Champs Elysees in Paris wearing the yellow jersey once again in 2022?

Major sporting events of 2022

Women's Euros

For just the second time since 2005, England is set to host the Women's Football European Championship, which kicks off on July 6. Unlike 16 years ago, this time the Lionesses are among the favorites. Germany and Lea Schüller (right) are also hoping to do better than at the 2017 Euros and the 2019 World Cup, when they failed to make it past the quarterfinals.

Major sporting events of 2022

World Athletics Championships

The World Athletics Championships will be held in Eugene, Oregon starting on July 15, and unlike in 2019 in Doha, this time big crowds and more comfortable temperatures are expected. However, some have criticized the fact that the US city was named host of the event without having had to go through a traditional bidding process. The city also happens to be home to sporting goods giant Nike.

Major sporting events of 2022

Eurobasket 2022

Germany is one of four co-hosts of Eurobasket 2022, along with the Czech Republic, Italy, and Georgia. Cologne's Lanxess Arena will host all of the games in Germany's Group B, while Berlin's Mercedes-Benz Arena will host the knockout phase, including the final on September 18. Among Germany's opponents in Group B will be Slovenia and their superstar Luka Doncic (right).

Major sporting events of 2022

2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens

The seven-a-side variant of rugby, which unlike the 15-a-side Union code is an Olympic sport, is growing in popularity. The World Cup kicks off in Cape Town, South Africa on September 9. There will be 24 men's teams in South Africa for the event, with 16 women's teams playing a parallel tournament with New Zealand's Stacey Fluhler hoping to star.

Major sporting events of 2022

World Cup in Qatar

Qatar has invested a huge amount into constructing new stadiums and infrastructure. But rights groups have sharply criticized the situation in the Emirate, in particular the conditions of foreign workers and the high number of deaths on stadium construction sites. The final of this first World Cup to be held late in the calendar year is slated for December 18. Edited by: Mark Meadows

Author: Andreas Sten-Ziemons, Chuck Penfold