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Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Osimhen, Lookman, Bassey named among best 11 AFCON 2025 players

Osimhen scored four goals, one short of the five scored by Brahim Diaz, who eventually won the Golden Boot of the tournament.

• January 21, 2026
Super Eagles trio of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey
Super Eagles trio of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey

Super Eagles trio of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey have been included in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament following an impressive outing in Morocco in which Nigeria finished third. 

The Confederation of African Football announced the Best XI of the just concluded tournament in a post on social media, with the body settling for a 4-3-3 lineup dominated by only players from Senegal, Morocco and Nigeria.

Osimhen scored four goals, one short of the five scored by Brahim Diaz, who eventually won the Golden Boot of the tournament. The Galatasaray forward also provided two assists at the tournament. 

On his side, Lookman recorded the most assists at the tournament, which was four. This added to the three goals he scored, making him the player with the highest goal-scoring contribution in the tournament. 

Meanwhile, Bassey caught the eyes of football fans around the world thanks to his brilliant display at the AFCON. The Fulham player’s strength and composure in the defensive line were crucial for the Super Eagles in their success at the tournament.

Other players in the team included Moroccan quartet of Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui and Diaz. Sadio Mane, Moussa Niakhaté, Idrissa Gueye and Pape Gueye, all from Senegal, completed the list. 

Full team

Goalkeeper: Bounou

Defender: Hakimi, Bassey, Niakhaté, Mazraoui

Midfielder: Gueye, Gueye, Lookman

Forward: Mane, Osimhen, Diaz.

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