CAN 2017: Where are the 368 players selected?

From 14 January to 5 February, 368 footballers from 16 national teams take part in the African Cup of Nations (CAN 2017) in Gabon. The opportunity for Jeune Afrique to locate each of these players in the club where it evolves.

They come from sixty-one countries around the world! But only 28% of them live on the continent. When they are not summoned to their respective national teams, most of the 368 players involved in the 31st edition of CAN 2017 play in clubs abroad, far from African stadiums.

As in the previous CAN, held two years ago in Equatorial Guinea , France is again leading providers of country players: 57 of the 368 French championships compete for all divisions, 15.5% of the players participating in the competition.

In the top 10 countries employing African players, there are also Great Britain (10%) and Portugal (5%). Spain (4.8%), Turkey (4.8%), Belgium (4.3%), Tunisia (4.3%), Egypt (4%), Italy 3.8%) and South Africa (3.5%).

However, three selected internationals - two Togolese and one Gabonese - are, for the moment, without a club.

Who are the suppliers of local players?

Of the 103 local players summoned in Gabon, 40 are in the countries of the Maghreb. Half of the Egyptian selection, for example, consists of a local skeleton, while 15 Tunisian internationals selected play in clubs in the country.

Algeria has called on four local players. And in the Moroccan selection, only an Atlas Lion comes from the Cherifian championship. However, the kingdom has four other foreign athletes, present at the CAN but playing under the colors of other nations (Burkina Faso, Gabon, Mali, Togo).

In the southern part of the continent, South Africa, although absent from the CAN 2017, welcomes its championships some 13 players present in Gabon eight Warriors of Zimbabwe, three Cranes of Uganda, a Black Star of Ghana And a Burkina Faso Stallion.

Al Ahly and TP Mazembe, first employers

Last education: all clubs represented at the CAN, only Al Ahly of Cairo (Egypt) and TP Mazembe of Lubumbashi (DRC) employ more than five players participating in this great mass of African football.

The podium is complemented by Espérance sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), Étoile sportive du Sahel (Tunisia), Losc (France) and Zamalek SC (Egypt), each of whom has five players selected for the CAN.