CAF AFCON starting XI (CREDIT: CAF)
The Confederation of African Football has released the full list of the CAF African Cup of Nations Starting XI.
The tournament which took a month, commenced on January 11 and ended on February 11, 2024, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The host nation, Ivory Coast, won the 34th edition of the tourney to clinch their third AFCON title.
The Elephants beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a tense final that ended 2-1, courtesy of goals from Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller, who both cancelled out William Troost-Ekong’s first-half lead.
CAF, the continent’s football governing body, on Wednesday, released the full list of the Starting XI of the concluded tourney.
Three Nigerian players – Captain William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina and winger, Ademola Lookman, made the list.
The 30-year-old captain had three goals in the competition and also bagged the Player of the Tournament award.
Aina was also included in the Starting XI to show how well he had performed in the tournament, starting all seven matches for Nigeria.
Lookman, who plays at the Italian club, Atalanta, registered three goals for the Super Eagles and emerged as one of Nigeria’s best performers in the competition.
Three players from Ivory Coast – Jean Michael Seri, Ghislan Konan and former Barcelona midfielder, Franck Kessie, were also featured in the list.
Also, the Democratic Republic of Congo had two players on the list – Chancel Mbemba and Yoane Wissa.
South African goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, and midfielder Teboho Mokoena were featured on the list.
Ivory Coast’s manager, Emerse Fae was selected as the coach for the starting XI.
Equatorial Guinea’s striker, Emilio Nsue, bagged five goals and won the Puma Golden Boot award.
See the Starting XI below:
Goalkeeper
Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
Defenders
Ola Aina (Nigeria)
Ghislan Konan (Ivory Coast))
William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo)
Midfielders
Teboho Mokoena (South Africa)
Jean Michael Seri (Ivory Coast))
Franck Kessie (Ivory Coast)
Strikers
Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea).
