Summer Transfer Window: 6 African Players Who Could Move to Europe

The African Cup of Nations ended Sunday with Zambia edging Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout. Now the top players are heading back to their European teams to finish the club season.

Some of the players, however, are staying put. Although African players have made impressive progress in Europe since the early 1990s, the continent still boasts a large reserve of untapped talent.

This is a list of six players who could be ready for the big time come next summer, when European clubs will be scooping up new talent. Naturally, it includes a bunch of Zambian players. Zambia won the Cup with a squad composed largely of players based outside Europe.

Stoppila Sunzu

Country: Zambia

Club: TP Mazembe (Congo)

Age: 22

Stoppila Sunzu scored the winning penalty for Zambia in the shootout win over Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations final.

In 29 senior caps, the 6'2" midfielder has scored three times.

Youssef Msakni

Country: Tunisia

Club: Esperance Tunis (Tunisia)

Age: 21

Youssef Msakni, a 21-year-old attacking midfielder, scored twice during Tunisia's run to the ANC quarterfinals.

He scored 10 times for Tunisian club Esperance during the 2010-11 season.

After last year's tournament, Msakni reportedly held talks with Espanyol. No deal materialized.

Kennedy Mweene

Country: Zambia

Club: Free State Stars (South Africa)

Age: 27

Kennedy Mweene, a 27-year-old goalkeeper, has played for Zambia since 2004 and Free State Stars—his South African-based club—since 2005.

Zambia's impressive run has already prompted speculation over a transfer. And since goalkeepers are always in demand, a summer move seems possible.

Abdul Kader Keïta

Country: Ivory Coast

Club: Al-Sadd (Qatar)

Age: 30

Abdul Kader Keïta is a 30-year-old attacking midfielder who currently features for Al-Sadd in the Qatar Stars League. Keïta is in his second stint with Al-Sadd. He left for the first time in 2005 and played for Lille, Lyon and Galatasaray before returning to the Middle East.

Could he be set for another exit this summer?

Christopher Katongo

Country: Zambia

Club: Henan Construction (China)

Age: 29

Striker Christopher Katongo captained Zambia to the ANC crown, scoring three goals along the way. One of his strikes was the game-winner against Equatorial Guinea in the final match of the group stage.

Katongo has played in Europe before, with stops at Brøndby (Denmark) and Arminia Bielefeld (Germany). He currently plays in China for Henan Construction.

His performance at the ANC led to a promotion in the Zambian army. Will a return to Europe come next?

Rainford Kalaba

Country: Zambia

Club: TP Mazembe (Congo)

Age: 25

Rainford Kalaba is a teammate of Stoppila Sunzu at TP Mazembe.

Unlike Sunzu, though, Soumah has European experience. In a professional career that dates to 2005, he has played for Sporting Braga, Gil Vicente and U.D. Leiria, all of Portugal.

Did we miss someone? Let us know in the comments.

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