Super Eagles players also missed out on the bench, while Egypt goalkeeper, Gabaski was also overlooked despite his heroic spot-kick saves
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday, released the list of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Best XI, with Super Eagles players not making the cut.
The announcement of the AFCON Best XI came via CAF’s Twitter handle following the conclusion of the tournament in Cameroon on Sunday.
The Super Eagles were the best team during the group stages after winning all of their three matches and earning the maximum 9 points.
But the Nigerians were conspicuously missing from the list, not even Nantes winger, Moses Simon, or Joe Aribo who had an outstanding tournament, made the bench.
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Egypts’ second goalkeeper, Mohamed Abougabal, popularly known as “Gabaski”, whom many expected to be named in the best XI, also missed out despite his heroic spot-kick saves
Champions, Senegal, dominated the list with four representatives, including golden glove winner Edouard Mendy and the tournament’s Most Valuable player Sadio Mane.
Others are Nancy left-back Saliou Ciss and Wilfred Ndidi’s teammate, Leicester City’s midfielder Nampalys Mendy.
Runners-up Egypt have three representatives, with their captain Mohamed Salah included alongside Arsenals’ Mohamed Elneny and Mohamed Abdelmonem.
Hosts Cameroon have just one representative, and it is no other person than the tournament’s top scorer Vincent Aboubakar, although three of their players made the bench.
Ibrahim Toure and Edmond Tapsoba represented Burkina Faso while Moroccos’ Achraf Hakimi completed the 11 man list.
Below is the full list:
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.
