Top five players of the group stage

Thomas Teye Partey [Ghana]

A bit of everything the modern holding midfielder needs. A willing runner, defensively sound and positionally astute, Partey has also demonstrated a decent range of passing despite playing on a dreadful surface in Port Gentil so far.

He is still young, 23, but his progress has been stunted somewhat by a lack of game-time. There is little doubt that with regular football he could grow into a true giant.

Christian Atsu [Ghana]

Ghana picked up six points from her first two games thanks to some inspiring displays from their exciting winger.

The Newcastle man was a constant threat down the flanks for the Black Stars against Uganda and Mali, which helped his team qualify for the final before the blip against Egypt. He was without a doubt on form and in many instances more dangerous than both Ayews and Gyan, Ghana’s undisputed big-guns.

Atsu is a pacy player who packs a shot in his boot. On his day he is unplayable and the Black Stars will hope that Atsu replicates his form in the first two group games when Ghana takes on DR Congo in the quarterfinals.

Christian Bassogog (Cameroon)

Cameroon were written off by almost everyone after several big-name players refused call ups to Hugo Broos's squad. But this young side qualified for the last eight at the expense of the hosts.

One of their most impressive performers was Bassogog, the 21-year-old winger with Danish side Aalborg who formerly played in the United States. He was a lively presence throughout the group stage and notably set up Michael Ngadeu's all-important winner against Guinea-Bissau.

Junior Kabananga (DR Congo)

Kabananga achieved something that nobody else managed in the group stage, scoring in all three matches. The giant 27-year-old forward, who plays his club football in Kazakhstan, netted the only goal in a 1-0 opening defeat of Morocco and then his side's second in a 2-2 draw with the Ivory Coast.

Against Togo on Tuesday, he showed power and strength as he ran through to get the first goal and he also hit the post in a 3-1 win. The former Anderlecht man was seen as a flop in Belgium but is now one of the main reasons why DR Congo are one of the favourites to win the trophy.

Essam El Hadary [Egypt]

One of only four survivors from the last Egypt side to come to the Africa Cup of Nations -- and win it -- in 2010, El Hadary turned 44 two days before their first game against Mali.

He came off the bench in the first half of that match for injured team-mate Ahmed El Shennawy and became the oldest player ever at the competition. He can clearly still perform as well, keeping a clean sheet in that game and then again in 1-0 wins over Uganda and Ghana that saw the Pharaohs top their group.