World Soccer - UK (2022-01)

P R E V IE W

2021 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Potential stars

in Cameroon

MarkGleesonhighlightssixplayerstokeep

aneyeonattheAfricaCupofNationsfinals

TheformerLiverpool,QPR and
TottenhamHotspurdefender, now
playingclubfootball in Turkey,
missedthelastpreparatory match
forSierraLeone in Novemberashis
applicationtoFIFA fora switchin
internationalallegiancewasstill
beingsought by hisnew country.
Caulkerplayed,andscored,for
Englandina friendlymatchagainst
Swedenbackin 2012 soisentitled
tomake thechange– as he also
qualifiesfor SierraLeonecitizenship

• andhisinclusion in thesquad
  would be a hugefillipasthe West
  Africancountrygoestothefinalsfor
  thefirsttimesince 19 96.Caulker’s
  grandfatherisfromSierraLeone.
  The 29 -year-oldcentre-back
  played a non-officialgameagainst
  Morocco’s AteaminOctoberbut
  willhavelittle timetoget to know
  histeam-matesbefore the
  tournamentkicksoff.

NayefAGUERD

MOROCCO

The 25 -year-oldcentraldefender

madea majorimpactinLigue 1

lastseasonandhascontinuedhis

outstandingperformances at the

backforRennes thiscampaign.

A productoftheMohamedVI

academyinhis home country,

Aguerd missedouton a chance

tosignfor Valenciaat 17 , and

later againatMalaga,but

perseveredandfinallygot

hisopportunityatDijon.

StevenCAULKER

SIERRALEONE

At6ft 3install, he hasa

commandingpresence andis

absolutelyoutstandingintheair.

AtRenneshistechnicalability

hasbeenencouragedaswell.

Hewas still playinginMorocco

whenhewonhisfirst capin 2016 ,

butonlyoverthelasttwoyears

hashecementedhisplace in the

nationalteamline-up– playing

every singleminuteof Morocco’s

WorldCupqualifyingcampaign.

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