SportPesa News AFCON 2023 Team of the Tournament

By Stephen Ayoo

Was the just concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations the greatest of all time?

Goals, upsets, late twists, VAR – you name it, this year's tournament had it all, making it undeniably the most glorious edition yet, with nearly 2 billion people tuning in, according to Patrick Motsepe, the CAF President.

It culminated with the hosts Ivory Coast ascending to the summit with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final, The Elephants completing the most remarkable turnaround.

In the aftermath of this exhilarating event, here is the selection for the tournament's best team, acknowledging the exceptional performances that illuminated the African football landscape.

 Play here and stand a chance of winning the over 26 Million SportPesa Midweek Jackpot

Goalkeeper – Ronwen Williams (South Africa)

The Mamelodi Sundowns keeper was being touted as one of the goalkeepers of the tournament even before his penalty-saving heroics had the world on its feet.

Never in the history of modern football had a goalkeeper saved four penalty kicks during shootouts until Williams stepped up against Cape Verde in the quarterfinals.

Although his lightning failed to strike again against Nigeria in the semis, he earned Bafana Bafana the bronze medal, saving two penalties against Congo in the third-place playoff.

The penalty saves would grab headlines alright but they were just the cream in a spectacular tournament for the 32-year-old shot-stopper.

Right Back – Ola Aina (Nigeria)

The Nottingham Forest wingback was rock solid from the off and never seemed to put a foot wrong. His combination with his winger Ademola Lookman made Nigeria’s right-wing their main attacking outlet.

They weren’t troubled even when they had their backs against the goal thanks to Aina’s sturdiness. However, good things come to an end and so did Aina’s when he came up against the final MVP Simon Adingira who easily dribbled past the Nigerian to set up Sebastian Haller’s winning goal.

ALSO READ: Haller hits winner as Ivory Coast beat Nigeria to take AFCON title

Left Back – Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo)

Masuaku put in a great shift in Congo’s defence as they made it to the semis for only the second time since 1998.

However, he will best be remembered for his stunning freekick that sealed DR Congo’s victory against Guinea in the quarterfinals. As he lined up to take a freekick from a tight left angle, the Besiktas left-back duped all but himself, sinking the ball home as Guinea goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone scrambled to atone for his oversight.

Did he mean it? You bet he did given he scored a goal of similar quality against Chelsea while at West Ham just over two years ago.

Center back – William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)

The tournament’s MVP was an ever-present leader as Nigeria came to within 30 minutes of winning the AFCON title.

He missed Nigeria’s opening victory against Guinea Bissau but then came in unfazed, playing the full minutes for the rest of the tournament and chipping in with some important goals, including a high-pressure penalty against South Africa’s penalty-saving wizard Williams.

In the final, Ekong’s bullet header gave the Super Eagles the lead against the Ivory Coast but the home team rallied to deny the PAOK center back an opportunity to lift the trophy. Not many have contested the decision to award him the tournament MVP.

ALSO READ: Marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum dies after grisly road accident

Center back – Khuliso Mdau (South Africa)

This was a straight shoot-out decision between Mudau and Cape Verde’s youngster Logan Costa. Costa, at just 22, starred in Cape Verde’s defence as they bossed their way to the quarterfinals having beaten Ghana and drawn with Egypt in their group.

Mudau however just edges the Toulouse man for longevity as South Africa went a step further in the competition.

Central Midfielder – Frank Kessie (Ivory Coast)

Kessie, like champions Ivory Coast, grew into the tournament as it progressed. A near catastrophic start his side had as they edged out of the group stage by the skin of their collective teeth.

Then, he and The Elephants came to life. His late penalty pulled them level against Senegal and he stepped forward to strike home the winning kick in the shootouts that sent the defending champions home.

He scored another leveler against Nigeria which gave the hosts the confidence and drive to go ahead and ensure the title remained home.

ALSO READ: OPINION: Should Muguna apologize for controversial goal celebration against Gor Mahia?

Central Midfielder – Teboho Mokoena (South Africa)

The 27-year-old unpacked his full artillery and gave an all-round performance that had many looking out for his age vis-à-vis where currently plays.

He scored in both the round of 16 and the quarter-final but his unexpected penalty miss against Nigeria could have made him a villain had his contribution throughout the tournament been under par. That free kick that all but confirmed victory against Morocco in the round of 16 will be replayed for ages.

Attacking Midfielder – Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)

Iwobi has seamlessly transitioned from an efficient winger to a midfielder who is comfortable on the ball and always looking for that forward pass.

Playing alongside the indefatigable Frank Onyeka allowed the Fulham midfielder to be the creative mind to drive the Super Eagles forward. He leaves the tournament without a direct assist or goal but that shouldn’t take away his attacking contribution for the second-best team in the tournament.

Wide Attacker – Simona Adingira (Ivory Coast)

 The 22-year-old saved his best performance for last to the detriment of Nigeria. Before the final, the Brighton midfielder had started only one match, against Mali in the round of 16 where he scored a 90th minute equalizer that sent the game to extra time which the Ivory Coast won.

He looked fresher and fitter than any other player on the pitch and was the star of the final, setting up his nation’s two goals against Nigeria.

ALSO READ: SportPesa Midweek Jackpot offers over 26 million in Valentine’s Edition

Wide Attacker – Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea)

The AFCON tournament was a show of some of the world’s best attackers: Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Riyadh Mahrez, Victor Osimhen, the lot.

However, that a 34-year-old who plays primarily as a right-back for CF Intercity in the Spanish third tier, emerged the top scorer with 5 goals tells the whole story of this year’s AFCON. He can play anywhere it seems so I’ll move him a bit wide, he’ll be alright. But what a way to sign off from your AFCON career Nsue, if indeed you have.

Striker – Sebastian Haller

This was the toughest choice but not so much after accommodating the outright Golden Boot winner, right? Africa’s best player, Osimhen comes to mind by default but wouldn’t complain for being overlooked having returned just one goal and an assist the whole tournament.

Angola’s Gelson Dala banged in 4 goals and added an assist which statistically makes him a shoo-in here but his team didn’t go beyond the last 16 so he misses out.

My go-to man, Haller, started only two matches but scored arguably the most important goals in the tournament. His exquisite winner against DR Congo sent the hosts to the final where he again stepped forward with another winner, stealing a match on MVP Troost-Ekong to poke home a difficult finish that won the hosts the title. Talk of less is more!

ALSO READ: Exclusive: How Benson Omalla’s deal to Algeria broke down last minute

Manager: Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast)

Title-winning coach Emerse Fae had never led a senior team before he was unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight following the sudden dismissal of Jean-Louis Gasset. With the hosts on the brink of a humiliating exit, Gasset was relieved of his duties before Ivory Coast's fate in the round of 16 was sealed.

Fortunately, Morocco's victory over Zambia provided a lifeline, securing Ivory Coast's progression, but there was little time to appoint a new manager. The Ivorian Football Federation attempted to recruit Herve Renard from France's women's team for the remainder of the competition, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Thus, Fae found himself in charge, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Substitutes: Stanley Nwabali-GK (Nigeria), Kialonda Gaspar (Angola), Logan Costa (Cape Verde) Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Seko Fofana (Ivory Coast), Ryan Mendes (Cape Verde), Gelson Dala (Angola)