Three Super Eagles stars — Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Calvin Bassey, have been named in the CAF Team of the Tournament for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the Best XI following the conclusion of the tournament on January 18, 2026, where Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1-0 in extra time, courtesy of Pape Gueye’s fourth-minute strike. Nigeria secured the bronze medal after edging Egypt 4–2 on penalties in the third-place playoff in Casablanca.
CAF’s Team of the Tournament, shared on its official X page, adopted a 4-3-3 formation, with players drawn from just three nations: Senegal, Morocco, and Nigeria.
Victor Osimhen featured in six matches for Nigeria, scoring four goals and helping the Super Eagles clinch third place. The Galatasaray striker was a constant threat up front, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess.
Ademola Lookman also earned a spot after a stellar AFCON campaign. The Atalanta winger recorded the tournament’s highest goal involvement, scoring three goals and providing four assists. This marks Lookman’s second inclusion in CAF’s Best XI, following his debut selection at AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire.
Calvin Bassey rounded out Nigeria’s representation in the squad. The Fulham defender was a commanding figure in the Super Eagles’ backline, contributing to three clean sheets and playing every minute of Nigeria’s campaign before missing the third-place match due to suspension.
Despite Nigeria’s strong performance, midfielder Alex Iwobi, widely regarded as a standout in midfield throughout the tournament, was surprisingly overlooked.
Tournament champions Senegal dominated the selection with four players, including Player of the Tournament Sadio Mane, Idris Gana Gueye, Pape Gueye, and defender Moussa Niakhite. Runners-up Morocco also contributed four players, featuring Goalkeeper of the Tournament Yassine Bono, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, and top scorer Brahim Diaz.
CAF’s selection sparked fan reactions, with some questioning the inclusion of Morocco captain Hakimi, who played only four matches due to injury and had a relatively quiet tournament.
Elijah Adeyemi
