The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released its Best XI for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), with Nigeria leading the way by placing three players in the team.
Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen, Calvin Bassey and Ademola Lookman all earned spots in the tournament’s best XI following Nigeria’s impressive run in the competition.
CAF unveiled the list on Wednesday morning, three days after the tournament concluded. The selection was dominated by players from Nigeria, Senegal and Morocco.
Osimhen was named the tournament’s best striker after featuring in six matches and scoring four goals for Nigeria, helping the Super Eagles reach the latter stages of the competition.
Lookman, the Atalanta winger, topped the AFCON goal-involvement chart with three goals and four assists, underlining his importance to Nigeria’s attacking play.
Bassey, who plays for Fulham, was a key figure in Nigeria’s defence. The former Rangers centre-back helped the Super Eagles keep three clean sheets in the six matches he played, anchoring the backline with consistency and resilience.
Nigeria’s trio of representatives was matched by strong showings from the finalists. Winners Senegal and runners-up Morocco each placed four players in the CAF Best XI, highlighting their dominance throughout the tournament.
Morocco contributed four players, including PSG defender Achraf Hakimi, Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz, Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui.
Senegal also had four players in the XI, with Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mané, Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye, Lyon defender Moussa Niakhaté, and Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye all making the list.
The CAF Best XI reflects the standout performances of the Super Eagles, Teranga Lions and Atlas Lions in what was a memorable AFCON edition.
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