Nigerians missing as CAF names best XI of AFCON group stage

No Super Eagles player was listed in the best eleven of the group stage of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

CAF announced the line-up in a post on its X account on Thursday evening.

Morocco dominated the list with four players, followed by Senegal with three, while Equatorial Guinea got two slots. Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola had one player each.

Jesus Owono was named the best goalkeeper. The back four included Kalidou Koulibaly, Nayef Aguerd, Achraf Hakimi, Arthur Masuaku. Sofyan Amrabat, Lamine Camara and Azzedine Ounahi completed the midfield.

The named attackers were Geldson Dala, Emilio Nsue and Ismaila Sarr.

🇲🇦 X4
🇸🇳 X3
🇬🇶 X2
🇨🇩 X1
🇦🇴 X1

Ladies & gentlemen, here your best XI from the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 group stages! 🔝 pic.twitter.com/RDqTmTGZgQ

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— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 25, 2024

Aliou Cisse of Senegal was also named the best manager for the group stage. The 47-year-old led the Teranga Lions to a first-place finish in Group C, winning all three games. Senegal was the only country with a 100 percent record in the competition’s group stage.

Senegal’s Lamine Camara was also named the best young player of the group stage. The 20-year-old midfielder scored twice and was a lynchpin in Senegal’s impeccable run.

Although the Super Eagles placed second in Group A with seven points, the team’s performance was largely uninspiring and lacklustre.

They played a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their first game and defeated Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau by a lone goal each.

Nigeria will play the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the second round of the competition on Saturday.