February 08, (THEWILL) – The AFCON 2021 Best XI has been announced, and understandably, there was not a single Nigerian in either the Best XI or on the substitutes bench.
After emerging from the group stages as the only side with maximum points and considered favourites for a fourth African football title, the Super Eagles were dispatched out of the competition by lowly-rated Tunisia, which barely made it through their group.
It was an upsetting exit that did not help the rating of the players in the final analysis. Instead, English Premier League talents Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, and Edouard Mendy all made the squad.
Mane and Mendy both tasted victory in the final, when Senegal defeated Salah’s Egypt on penalties. Mohamed Elneny and Nampalys Mendy, both EPL players, join the trio in the squad.
Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain, also made the cut after scoring two stunning free kicks for Morocco throughout the competition. Cameroon attacker Vincent Aboubakar leads the charge, having scored eight goals in AFCON 2021.
The full team included:
AFCON 2021 Best XI
Edouard Mendy (GK) – Senegal
Achraf Hakimi (RB) – Morocco
Mohamed Abdelmonem (CB) – Egypt
Edmond Tapsoba (CB) – Burkina Faso
Saliou Ciss (LB) – Senegal
Mohamed Elneny (CM) – Egypt
Nampalys Mendy (CM) – Senegal
Blati Toure (CM) – Burkina Faso
Mohamed Salah (RW) – Egypt
Vincent Aboubakar (ST) – Cameroon
Sadio Mane (LW) – Senegal
The substitutes bench included:
Andre Onana – Cameroon
Collins Fai – Cameroon
Kalidou Koulibaly – Senegal
Mahmoud Hamdy – Egypt
Ahmed Abo Elfetouh – Egypt
Andre Anguissa – Cameroon
Youssouf M’Changama – Comoros
Bertrand Traore – Burkina Faso
Sofiane Boufal – Morocco
Toko Ekambi – Cameroon
Famara Diedhiou – Senegal
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
