By Safiu Kehinde
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have released the 2021 African Cup of Nations best eleven with no Nigerian player featuring in the line-up.
The recently concluded AFCON tournament saw Senegal emerge as the new African champions following their defeat of Egypt at the final.
Pitched as one of the favourites to win the cup, Nigeria fell from grace to grass in one swoop after a 1-0 defeat to Tunisia at the round of 16. Prior to their dismissal from the tournament, the Super Eagles had recorded 100% win at the group stage, making them a likely face to appear in the final.
However, it ended up as a mystery take for Nigeria as Tunisia, who finished third at the group stage, came from nowhere to upset the Super Eagles. This ruined the chance of Nigeria’s outstanding performer, Moses Simon, from making it to AFCON Best XI. It was even worse for the Super Eagles that none of the players were named at the reserve bench list released by CAF.
Dominating the best eleven line-up were new champions, Senegal who had four representatives in the person of Eduoard Mendy, Sadio Mane, Saliou Ciss, and Nampalys Mendy.
The tournament’s runner-up, Egypt also boast of the inclusion of team’s captain, Mohammed Salah, Mohammed Abdelmonem, and Mohammed Elnely.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi made it to the best eleven alongside tournament’s highest goal scorer, Vincent Aboubakar.
See the full list below:
Best XI: Mendy, Hakimi, Abdelmonem, Tapsoba, Ciss, N.Mendy, Toure, Elneny, Salah, Aboubakar and Mane.
Substitutes: Andre Onana, Collins Fai, Kalidou Koulibaly, Mahmoud Hamdy, Ahmed Abo Elfetouh, Andre Anguissa, Youssouf M’Changama, Bertrand Traore, Sofiane Boufal, Toko Ekambi, Famara Diedhiou.
