following a dramatic 1-0 win towards match hosts Morocco on the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Either side couldn’t be separated after 90 minutes, however an early aim in additional time from Pape Gueye was sufficient to assist Senegal reclaim the crown.
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There have been loads of highlights from what’s going to go down as some of the chaotic AFCON campaigns in historical past.
Nevertheless, quite a lot of Premier League gamers stood out for his or her performances.
, however we’ve picked out a couple of of them who made waves on the continental stage.
Alex Iwobi – Nigeria/Fulham
Alex Iwobi was the lynchpin of a Nigerian crew that deserved greater than their third-place end.
Many will level to Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman because the driving forces. However they each benefited from Iwobi’s phenomenal provide line with the Fulham star pulling the strings in midfield.
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The 29-year-old notched two assists in six video games, averaging 2.3 key passes per 90 minutes, which led to creating two large probabilities. However these numbers hardly do justice to his phenomenal type at AFCON.
Going into the semi-final, the place Nigeria’s AFCON journey ended, Iwobi had recorded a shocking 46 line-breaking passes (together with 36 within the knockout spherical alone).
Iwobi was the engine of Nigeria’s attacking brilliance. He created a complete of 11 probabilities at a mean of simply over two per 90 minutes.
Lyle Foster – South Africa/Burnley
South Africa have been eradicated from AFCON within the last-16 after a gut-wrenching 2-1 defeat to Cameroon, however Lyle Foster’s performances stood out for Bafana Bafana.
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The Burnley striker was undoubtedly top-of-the-line gamers within the South African crew, and he led the road for David Pagou’s facet with aplomb.
Foster was straight concerned in 4 of South Africa’s six group-stage objectives, bagging two objectives and two assists in 4 video games whereas creating two large probabilities.
His efforts weren’t sufficient to assist South Africa get previous the final 16, however the Burnley striker could be glad together with his particular person efficiency within the match.
Omar Marmoush – Egypt/Manchester Metropolis
Omar Marmoush has struggled to say himself in Pep Guardiola’s first-team plans at Manchester Metropolis, however his efficiency for Egypt ought to give the Spanish tactician one thing to consider.
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The 26-year-old led the road for the Pharaohs alongside Mohamed Salah and scored two essential objectives to assist Egypt attain the semi-finals.
Marmoush scored a late winner within the curtain raiser towards Zimbabwe and opened the scoring within the thrilling 3-2 win over Cote d’Ivoire within the quarter finals.
Mohamed Salah – Egypt/Liverpool
Talking of Salah, the Premier League veteran arrived at AFCON on the again of a bombshell interview that sparked mayhem at Liverpool.
However he was capable of put that behind him and deal with firing Egypt to the AFCON semi-final.
The Liverpool star scored in 4 consecutive AFCON video games en path to the final 4, and three of them have been match-winning objectives.
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Salah got here up clutch for his nation earlier than they have been finally undone by champions Senegal.
The 33-year-old failed to say himself in that disappointing exit as his watch for a primary AFCON crown goes on. He’d be hoping to keep up his type when he returns to Liverpool.
Amad Diallo – Cote d’Ivoire/Manchester United
Manchester United ahead Amad Diallo stole the highlight in a star-studded Cote d’Ivoire crew.
Regardless of taking part in in solely his second AFCON match, Amad spearheaded Ivory Coast’s spectacular run to the quarter-finals, recording three objectives and an help in 5 video games.
Amad scored in back-to-back video games firstly of the match, together with a second-half winner in Ivory Coast’s 1-0 win over Mozambique within the curtain raiser.
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The United ahead adopted that up with a aim and an help in a 3-0 demolition of Burkina Faso within the final 16, however missed a giant likelihood towards Egypt that may have made him joint-second AFCON high scorer.
El Hadji Malick Diouf – Senegal/West Ham United
West Ham United defender El Hadji Malick Diouf caught the attention together with his performances for Senegal at AFCON, cementing his spot as top-of-the-line full-backs within the match.
He performed a key position in serving to Senegal win their second AFCON title in three editions.
Diouf hardly put a foot incorrect throughout his 5 appearances. He was a artistic power going ahead (organising two large probabilities), however not on the expense of his main defensive duties.
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The 21-year-old gained 58% of his duels, whereas averaging 1.8 tackles, 3.4 ball recoveries, and three.8 clearances per match. He additionally helped to maintain a formidable 4 clear sheets all through the marketing campaign.
Idrissa Gueye – Senegal/Everton
Idrissa Gueye was a power to be reckoned with on the coronary heart of Senegal’s midfield. He performed each minute of each sport for Senegal and saved the crew ticking all through the marketing campaign.
The Everton midfielder was arguably essentially the most constant participant within the Senegalese crew and was essential to their title win.
Gueye recorded essentially the most profitable passes within the opposition half (243) and line-breaking passes (92) on the match, whereas additionally having the second-most touches (488).
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As Senegal’s most-capped participant, the 36-year-old’s expertise was key to his nation’s outstanding triumph in Morocco.
Noussair Mazraoui – Morocco/Manchester United
Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui was a standout performer for Morocco, serving to the Atlas Lions attain the ultimate with out conceding a single aim from open play.
Mazraoui’s versatility got here in useful for Morocco as he lined up on both facet of the backline and helped Walid Regragui’s facet preserve 5 clear sheets in six video games.
The 26-year-old put in a whole and constant efficiency for Morocco all through the marketing campaign and was rewarded with an help for his attacking impetus.
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He additionally gained a formidable 62% of his duels whereas averaging 3.3 tackles and a pair of.1 clearances per sport.
Bryan Mbeumo – Cameroon/Manchester United
Like his African counterparts, Bryan Mbeumo additionally performed a key position for his nation.
He confirmed no indicators of a participant who continues to be adapting to life at Man United and considerably contributed to Cameroon’s journey to the quarter-final.
Mbeumo did not get on the rating sheet and solely had one help to his identify in 5 video games, however the numbers don’t do justice to his performances.
The 26-year-old created a formidable 5 large probabilities all through the marketing campaign, averaging 2.2 key passes per 90 minutes.
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Particular recognitionBrahim Diaz – Morocco/Actual Madrid
Whereas Premier League stars had their moments on the continental stage, one participant who actually stole the highlight on the 2025 AFCON was Actual Madrid ahead Brahim Diaz.
With 5 objectives in seven video games for Morocco, Diaz completed the marketing campaign as AFCON high scorer and will have prolonged his tally however for a second of insanity within the last.
Either side deadlocked after 90 minutes, however Diaz had an opportunity to finish Morocco’s 50-year watch for the continental crown after successful a extremely controversial penalty within the final minute of stoppage time.
The Madrid star went for a Panenka and fluffed his traces as Edouard Mendy gathered his effort with out breaking a sweat, turning him from a nationwide hero to a historic villain in a matter of minutes.