The African Football League's biggest stars

With the African Super League right around the corner, we take a look at each team's star player, including Al Ahly's Percy Tau and Mamelodi Sundowns' Peter Shalulile!

The tournament comprises of eight clubs that are considered to be among the best the continent has to offer, and they will be pitted against one another when the AFL kicks off with a clash between Egypt's Al Ahly and Tanzanian side Simba SC this Friday.

Read: OPINION: You need a golden generation to win AFCON

With the two sides set to mark the beginning of the inaugural showpiece, the anticipation surrounding it is evident when considering that platinum tickets, which are $85 (R1 600) each, for the fixture have already been sold out. 

Al Ahly have a star-studded squad that features playmaker Ali Maaloul, Emam Ashour, who has two assists in as many games, and goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, who has a save percentage of 85.7%, making three saves per nine, according to FotMob. 

However, the star man we have identified for the Egyptian outfit is South Africa's very own Percy Tau. After just two league games, the winger has bagged four goals. He could even have had six but he missed two big chances, per Fotmob.

Nevertheless, it shows that the Bafana Bafana forward is getting into the right positions to increase his goal tally, and opposition should always be wary of a forward who is able to sniff out scoring opportunities like he has so far this season. 

As for Ahly's quarter-final opposition, the player who stands out as the Tanzanian side's key man is Luis Miquissone, who made his much-anticipated return to Simba SC earlier this year. Coincidentally, Miquissone first departed the club in 2021 to join Al Ahly, and now finds himself playing for one of his former teams against one of his latest ex-club. 

The Mozambique international is a skilful individual who uses his silky dribbling skills to beat a player. He also flexes an ability to thread a pass through opposition lines and at 28 years of age, the winger is well-experienced too, having plied his trade in South Africa for Mamelodi Sundowns and Chippa United, as well as in Saudi Arabia for Abha Club. 

Speaking of Sundowns, on Saturday, South Africa's Masandawana will be in action when they take on Atletico Petroleos de Luanda of Angola in their quarter-final. 

Sundowns have a host of star players to pick from due to their dominance not only in local competitions, but in African tournaments too. However, the man who stands out as a star performer and key member of the squad is Peter Shalulile. 

The Namibian has made a blistering start to the season, collecting five goals and two assists in nine appearances. He seems to have picked up well from where he left off last season after being named the DStv Premiership's player of the 2022/23 campaign. The forward was also the league's top scorer for two consecutive seasons. 

Meanwhile, Petroleos de Luanda finished the 2022/23 season top of the Girabola league with 69 points and a whopping win percentage of 79%. They conceded just 0.57 goals per game, and for that reason, the man in the poles, Hugo Marques, has been identified as the Angolan club's star man. The club conceded a goal every 158 minutes, and let in just 16 strikes during their league-winning campaign... Shalulile up against Marques looks to be quite the battle!

Next, we look at TP Mazembe, who are representing DR Congo and are scheduled to take on Tunisian side Esperance Sportive de Tunis. 

Mazembe are currently top of the Linafoot league table after six games, winning five and drawing one as they fight to defend their status as reigning champions. Their star man is forward Joel Beya. 

Beya is spearheading those ambitions by being the side's top goalscorer so far in this campaign, bagging three league goals, according to Soccer Punter, and his goal contributions will be something Mazembe will require to overcome the challenge of their Tunisian challengers.

Esperance Sportive de Tunis are also flying in their domestic league, going unbeaten after five matches. Their star player is arguably sturdy centre-back Yassine Meriah, who joined the club in 2022. He has since become a regular starter and a key member of the team who will look to translate their domestic dominance in to continental supremacy.

According to Transfermarkt, he has started all of his side's games this season and has proved himself a headache for opposition at both ends of the pitch. In addition to his stellar defensive contribution that has helped the side keep three clean sheets this season, the defender, who stands at 1.88m tall, has also scored three goals.

For TP Mazembe, it will be a question of trying to get passed him when they attack and keeping a thorough eye on him while defending set-pieces. 

To conclude the weekend's action, Nigerian representatives Enyimba FC will take on Moroccan side Wydad AC in an encounter that promises to take spectators' breaths away on Sunday. 

Enyimba play their football in Nigeria's top flight but, unlike the other teams in the AFL, have not got off to the best of starts this season. In fact, they are currently 15th on the table after two games, winning one and losing the other. Also unlike the other sides, their star player is a youngster! At only 16 years of age, Daniel Daga started in Enyimba's 3-2 victory over Akwa United FC on Sunday, and is definitely one to keep an eye on after his fantastic showing at the 2023 U20 FIFA World Cup.

Said to have already attracted the interest of various European clubs, the defensive midfielder is currently on loan at Enyimba from Nigerian National League side FC One Rocket. 

As for the opposition, Wydad AC captain Yahya Jabrane will play a key role in trying to dictate the midfield and neutralising the threat of Daga and his teammates. The 32-year-old has made five appearances in Morocco's Botola Pro 1 this season, and contributed not only with his leadership but with a goal and an assist too.

Last season, the Morocco international played a pivotal role in the team's overall success, making 43 appearances and scoring seven goals while assisting a further two strikes. And in the season before that, he was recognised as the league's player of the year.

Read: Dangermen: The Ivory Coast stars Bafana must watch out for

That midfield battle between Jabrane and Daga will be a key factor in determining which side comes out on top and progresses to the semi-finals. 

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