With Samuel Eto'o no longer part of the furniture in the Cameroon squad, coach Volker Finke is looking for a new star to provide guile and goals as they open their African Nations Cup Group D campaign against Mali in Malabo tonight.

There are a few candidates, but none so strong as FC Porto forward Vincent Aboubakar, who may be only 22 years old but is already an experienced member of the side.

He is so well thought of that he has been named vice-captain of the team for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea, but aside from leadership brings a powerful frame, pace and, most importantly, goals.

"Aboubakar has really improved his finishing skills and has developed real composure over the year," Henri Manga, a Cameroonian coach, told reporters. "His speed and predatory skills make him very important to Finke's team, as does his ability on the ball.

"He is very dangerous. He is one of our best weapons."

This will be Aboubakar's first Nations Cup tournament and he has the potential to be the overall star.

He burst onto the scene as an unknown 18-year-old just before the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and was selected for the final 23-man Cameroon squad.

He was the only home-based player in the Indomitable Lions selection for that tournament.

He made two appearances at those finals, before beginning a new life in France with Valenciennes, who had signed the youngster in the weeks leading up to the World Cup.

Aboubakar never quite fulfilled his potential at Valenciennes, but a move to Ligue 1 Lorient proved just the ticket as he suddenly became a goalscoring machine.

His 17 goals in 37 appearances prompted FC Porto to move for him in August 2014 and he has now begun a new life in Portugal where he has also got to play UEFA Champions League football.