The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations came to a dramatic close with Senegal lifting the trophy after ending Morocco’s home-soil dream in an intense extra-time final, while Nigeria rebounded from semi-final heartbreak to secure a record ninth bronze medal by defeating Egypt in the third-place playoff.
AFCON 2025 produced standout individual performances across the continent, with Senegalese and Nigerian players dominating the tournament’s Best XI selections.
Notably, Egypt captain Mohamed Salah missed out despite registering four goals and an assist during the competition.
Goalkeeper
Edouard Mendy
Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was one of the tournament’s most influential figures, even though Morocco’s Yassine Bounou claimed the official Golden Glove.
Mendy kept five clean sheets and conceded just two goals throughout the tournament, anchoring Senegal’s title-winning campaign with authority and composure.
Defenders
Krepin Diatta
In defence, Senegal's Krepin Diatta earned his place despite missing the final through injury. The versatile wing-back featured in every match leading up to the final, creating 10 chances and providing an assist while maintaining defensive discipline. His relentless energy and intelligence on the right flank were vital to Senegal’s balance.
Nayef Aguerd
Morocco’s Nayef Aguerd was a commanding presence throughout AFCON 2025, playing every minute and helping the Atlas Lions record five clean sheets without conceding an open-play goal during normal time. His semi-final performance against Nigeria, where he nullified Victor Osimhen, underlined his dominance and leadership.
Calvin Bassey
Nigeria’s Calvin Bassey delivered some of the finest performances of his international career, emerging as the Super Eagles’ defensive leader in the knockout stages. Nigeria conceded no open-play goals in the knockouts, with Bassey central to that resilience. His ball progression and composure against Morocco stood out, as he led all players in touches and passes during the semi-final.
Noussair Mazraoui
Completing the backline was Morocco’s Noussair Mazraoui, whose versatility and consistency made his inclusion inevitable. Equally comfortable on both flanks, Mazraoui combined defensive solidity with attacking thrust, supplying an assist and offering constant support in Morocco’s buildup play.
Midfielders
Brahim Díaz
In midfield, Morocco’s Brahim Díaz enjoyed a historic tournament despite missing a panenka penalty in the final. The Real Madrid forward finished as AFCON 2025’s Golden Boot winner with five goals, becoming the first Moroccan to score in five consecutive AFCON matches. His movement, finishing, and ability to unlock defences carried Morocco deep into the tournament.
Alex Iwobi
Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi was the creative heartbeat of the Super Eagles, dictating tempo and supplying incisive passes throughout the competition. He led Nigeria’s pre-assist statistics and played a pivotal role in their deep run, further cementing his legacy among the country’s AFCON greats.
Pape Gueye
Senegal’s Pape Gueye proved decisive when it mattered most. The Villarreal midfielder delivered crucial goals at key moments, including two long-range strikes after Senegal fell behind against Sudan, before sealing the final with a stunning effort against Morocco in extra time. His performances earned multiple Man of the Match awards, including in the final.
Forwards
Sadio Mane
Up front, Sadio Mane was the face of AFCON 2025 and a deserved tournament MVP. The Senegal captain contributed two goals and three assists, but his influence extended far beyond statistics. His leadership and composure were central to Senegal’s triumph, as he became the player with the most AFCON goal contributions since 2006.
Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen also enjoyed a redemption tournament for Nigeria. After a subdued AFCON 2023, the Galatasaray striker returned with renewed purpose, scoring four goals and adding two assists. Osimhen captained the Super Eagles on two occasions and remained Nigeria’s most dominant physical presence in attack.
Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman completed the forward line after finishing AFCON 2025 as Nigeria’s most productive attacker. With three goals and four assists, Lookman was a constant threat and formed a devastating partnership with Osimhen. He capped his tournament by calmly converting the decisive penalty against Egypt to secure Nigeria’s bronze medal.
Despite Egypt’s respectable run, Mohamed Salah’s contributions were not enough to earn a place in the tournament’s Best XI, highlighting the exceptional level of performance delivered by Senegalese and Nigerian stars at AFCON 2025.
Do you agree with the AFCON 2025 Best XI selections, or should Salah have made the cut?