It has been an Africa Cup of Nations to remember so far and with the knockout phase about to get underway, Flashscore looks back at the group stages to see who were the best players of that phase of the tournament.
Here is Flashscore’s team of the tournament, based on their ratings system, so far.
Goalkeeper
Jesus Owono (Equatorial Guinea) – 7.4
Equatorial Guinea’s fairytale journey saw Jesus Owono play a crucial role, boasting a 76.9% shot-to-save percentage, securing a clean sheet in their surprising 4-0 win over Ivory Coast.
Defence
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) – 8.2
Achraf Hakimi, the PSG full-back, lived up to his star status with an outstanding group stage performance. His contributions included scoring a goal, assisting another, and being part of a defensive line that secured two clean sheets.
Kialonda Gaspar (Angola) – 7.7
Kialonda Gaspar stood out as Angola’s best-rated player, displaying defensive prowess with a clean sheet and the joint-most interceptions in the tournament.
William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) – 7.7
Despite Nigeria finishing second in their group, captain William Troost-Ekong’s standout performance, particularly against Ivory Coast, highlighted his leadership and defensive abilities.
Ali Abdi (Tunisia) – 7.7
Ali Abdi’s impressive display, despite Tunisia’s early exit, showcased his quality, including an assist in their draw with Mali and solid performances against South Africa.
Midfield
Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco) – 7.6
Azzedine Ounahi, a forward-thinking player for Morocco, consistently performed well, with a notable contribution in their 3-0 victory over Tanzania, where he scored the second goal.
Mohammed Kudus (Ghana) – 7.8
Despite Ghana’s heartbreaking exit, Mohammed Kudus’ remarkable performances, including a two-goal effort against Cape Verde, demonstrated his importance to the team’s future.
Jose Machin (Equatorial Guinea) – 7.4
Equatorial Guinea’s playmaker, Jose Machin, stood out with three assists, playing a key role in his team’s attacking success and emerging as one of the most impactful players.
Forwards
Georges-Kevin N’Koudou (Cameroon) – 7.7
Cameroon’s Georges-Kevin N’Koudou matched Machin’s creativity with three assists, including a crucial one in stoppage time against Gambia, showcasing composure under pressure.
Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea) – 7.7
Equatorial Guinea’s standout player, Emilio Nsue, proved versatile and prolific as an auxiliary forward, scoring five goals in three games, becoming the tournament’s top scorer.
Mohamed Mostafa (Egypt) – 7.6
In the absence of Mo Salah, Egypt found a key contributor in Mohamed Mostafa, who netted in each group game, displaying sharpness and a crucial role in Salah’s potential return in the knockout rounds.
