The TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2023 will go down in memory as one of the best ever.
The tournament is now behind us, concluded with hosts Ivory Coast clinching their third title after seeing off Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the final at Alassane Outtara stadium on Sunday.
It has been a tournament full of classic individual displays which makes a tough call on the best XI but below are my choices in each respective position.
GK: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
South Africa’s hero in the quarter final against Cape Verde after he saved four penalties in the shootout.
Besides, he has been ever present, kept five clean sheets and made telling saves to secure bronze for Bafana Bafana.
Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabwali comes closest after he also had fine displays.
RB: Khuliso Mudau (South Africa)
A modern-day full back who defends excellently but also goes forward with equally the same energy to support the attackers.
The Mamelodi Sundowns man goes about his business with a smile throughout games.
Ola Aina was a close contestant until the final when Simon Adingra gave him a baptism of fire.
LB: Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo)
The former Westham United man put in a good shift in every game he played and only rested against South Africa for a 3rd place play off.
Also scored a good goal from a free kick during the campaign. Only Bafana Bafana’s Modiba could give him a close contest at left back.
CB: William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
The tournament’s MVP as per CAF. The Nigerian captain provided leadership from the back and scored three important goals for the Super Eagles calmly slotting penalties against Ivory Coast (group stages) and South Africa (semis).
CB: Evan Ndicka (Ivory Coast)
The young centre back from AS Roma played alongside three partners in Ousmane Diomande, Edilon Kossounou and the veteran Willy Boly, and never at any one time put a foot wrong.
The AS Roma defender has been on the best of his defensive prowess the entire tournament.
NOTE: The centre back positions have been toughest to choose. Special mentions to the Bafana Bafana pair of Mvala and Kekana, Nigeria’s Calvin Bassey, Ivory Coast’s Kossonou.
DM: Charles Pickel (DR Congo)
Pickel was the calming effect at the heart of an elaborative DR Congo midfield, intelligently breaking opponents’ play and dictated proceedings for the Leopards. Â
CM: Teboho Mokoena (South Africa)
The former SuperSport United man, now at Sundowns, has been a marvel to watch in the midfield.
Calm, cool and collected through the tournament linking defence to attack with ease and also showed big nerves to score from the spot against Nigeria in the semis – though missed in the shootout.
His man of the match display against Morocco is one of the best individual performances at the Afcon.
CAM: Frank Kessie (Ivory Coast)
What a player! Kessie has been outstanding in the middle for the champions with his leadership on show.
Kept his nerves to score an 86th minute penalty against Senegal that started the journey to redemption for the Ivorians and also got the leveller in the finals.
Rolled back the days when he starred for AC Milan with top performances.
FWD: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
He has been a revelation in this Super Eagles team scoring goals as witnessed against Angola and Cameroon and also making that key assist to Victor Osimhen’s equaliser against Equatorial Guinea.
FWD: Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea)
The Golden Boot winner with five goals despite his side not going beyond the round of 16.
Nsue beats Osimhen and other centre forwards to a place in my XI for his goals.
FWD: Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast)
Recovered at the right time to give Ivory Coast a different dimension in attack after he rarely featured in the group stages due to injury.
The man of the match in the final has been a menace to full backs – getting a crucial goal against Mali in the quarter finals and then two sublime assists in the final.
And just to remind you, he is 22 years old an implication of a big future.
Coaches: Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast) and Hugo Broos (South Africa)
