The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations provides up-and-coming players with the perfect opportunity to strut their stuff.
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These are the players who caught the eye on day 5 of the competition.
South Africa v Angola:
Tokelo Rantie showed the rest of Africa, and the world, what most of South Africa already knew following an inspired performance in Bafana Bafana's 2-0 victory over Angola on Wednesday.
The striker, having played for double-treble champions Orlando Pirates in the Premier Soccer League, as well as in Sweden with Malmo FF, gave the host nation what they lacked in their Group A opener: some attacking intent.
The 22-year-old showed his usual quick feet and won his side countless free-kicks, while also managing to get in behind the defence more than once, although his shooting appears to still need some work after he failed to truly test the opposition goalkeeper.
With Bafana having produced such an improved display from that they showed in their opener, the talented forward probably did his starting ambitions in the final group match no harm, with South Africa already with one foot in the quarter-finals, needing only a draw on the final day to secure their place in the last-eight.
Morocco v Cape Verde:
Cape Verde have seemingly produced more than a couple of impressive players, but one of the more notable on the night was Ryan Mendes.
The Lille forward proved an absolute handful for the North Africans, producing mazy runs both on and off the ball, while his passing game looked a polished item, highlighted by his inch-perfect through-ball which played Luis Platini in for the opening goal.
His talents do not lie only in the midfield though, with the 23-year-old showing plenty of attacking intent and linking up brilliantly with Platini in the final third, although some wayward finishing pointed out some flaws in the player's game, although nothing a top manager couldn't work out given the time.





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