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| Group Stage Best XI |
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released its official Group Stage Best XI from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and it reads like a who’s-who of players who defined the competition’s first phase. The lineup spans defenders who shut down attacks, midfielders who drove play, and forwards who delivered crucial goals and moments.
Goalkeeper
Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt) – Commanding between the posts, the veteran stopper made several key saves that helped Egypt navigate a testing group. His leadership from the back was a stabilizing force for the Pharaohs.
Defence
Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) – The Moroccan right-back combined defensive discipline with energetic support on the flank.
Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo) – Towering and composed, Tuanzebe’s aerial presence and tackling brought calm to his side’s backline.
Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso) – A natural leader at centre-back, Tapsoba read the game well and made crucial interceptions.
Yassine Abdi (Tunisia) – Reliable and measured on the left, Abdi balanced defensive duties with threat going forward.
Midfield
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon) – Energetic and box-to-box, Baleba’s ball recoveries and drives through midfield gave his team consistent momentum.
Brahim Díaz (Morocco) – One of the standouts of the group stage, Brahim scored in all three matches, anchoring Morocco’s creative engine and finding the net with regularity.
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) – The Atalanta winger was electric, racking up goals and assists and earning the highest average player rating of the group phase.
Attack
Sadio Mané (Senegal) – Even in a tightly contested Senegal group, Mané’s experience and direct threat kept defenders honest.
Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) – Quick, inventive and direct, Amad led the line with pace and composure, troubling defenders game after game.
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) – The veteran playmaker blended flair with decisive final-third action, helping Algeria’s creative thrusts.
Coach:
Eric Chelle (Nigeria) – Recognised for his tactical clarity and the Super Eagles’ clinical group performance, Chelle’s inclusion underlines how well organised and balanced Nigeria looked throughout the opening round.
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| Best XI |
What This Team Says About the Tournament So Far
This Best XI reflects a wide geographic spread — players from North, West, and Central Africa feature prominently, showing how competitive this AFCON edition has been. Morocco’s Brahim Díaz and Mazraoui are the only players from the host nation in the XI, but their inclusion feels justified given Morocco’s unbeaten group run and Díaz’s goal streak.
Lookman’s presence as the sole Nigerian outfield player highlights just how influential he was for the Super Eagles, helping them to a perfect group record and scripted momentum heading into the knockout rounds.
With the Round of 16 approaching, these eleven individuals are ones to watch — whether it’s Brahim continuing his scoring run, Lookman driving Nigeria forward, or the back-line trio of Mazraoui, Tuanzebe, and Tapsoba holding strong under pressure. Their group stage excellence sets a high bar and raises expectations for deeper runs in the tournament
