The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced its Best XI from the group stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, with notable omissions from Nigeria’s Super Eagles stars.
Despite finishing as runners-up in Group A with an impressive seven points, none of the Nigerian players secured a spot in the prestigious lineup.
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The CAF XI, adopting a formidable 4-3-3 formation, saw Equatorial Guinea’s goalkeeper Jesus Owono taking his place between the posts. However, the absence of defensive pillars William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, and Calvin Bassey from Nigeria raised eyebrows. Instead, the defensive slots were claimed by Achraf Hakimi, Kalidou Koulibaly, Nayef Aguerd, and Arthur Masuaku, leaving Super Eagles fans questioning the criteria behind the selections.
In the midfield, the trio of Azzedine Ouname, Manchester United’s defensive midfielder Soryan Amrabat, and Senegal’s Lamine Camara earned recognition, sidelining Nigerian midfield talents who played crucial roles in their team’s group stage journey.
The most surprising exclusion, however, came in the attacking department. Despite being the reigning CAF Men’s Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen failed to secure a spot in the frontline of the CAF XI. The attacking trio comprised Gelson Dala, Emilio Nsue, and Ismaila Sarr, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning the rationale behind the selections.
As Nigeria prepares for a crucial knockout clash against Cameroon on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 9 pm in Abidjan, the absence of Super Eagles stars in the CAF Best XI adds an extra layer of motivation. The Nigerian team, fueled by the desire to prove their worth, will look to make a statement in the knockout stages of the 2023 AFCON and potentially rewrite the narrative surrounding their exclusion from the group stage honors.
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