Nigeria’s Super Eagles trio of William Troost-Ekong, Ademola Lookman, and Ola Aina have been named in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Best XI players of the 2023 African Cup of Nations.
CAF Technical Study Group (TSG) released the Best XI for AFCON 2023 on Wednesday and included the three Nigerians for their performance after the Super Eagles came second after losing 2-1 to Ivory Coast in Sunday’s final.
“The CAF Technical Study Group has been following and analysing the tournament and its trends from day one,” CAF wrote.
“Hosts Cote d’Ivoire, the new African champions, have three names in the Best Xl: Ghislan Konan, Jean Michael Seri and Franck Kessie. Kessie’s goal in the final helped the home side to secure the title.
“Nigeria, who came oh-so-close, also have three names on the list: Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong and Ademola Lookman.”
Troost-Ekong rose from the ashes at the 2023 AFCON, playing his best-ever football for Nigeria. It was not a surprise after he was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
The quality leadership, intelligent reading of games, making critical blocks and scoring those crucial penalties; these and many more are the highlight of the PAOK defender’s masterclass at the competition.
With his three goals in the 2023 AFCON and two in previous tournaments, he made history by becoming the highest scoring defender at the finals.
Aina who is slick and always eager to make his excellent run forward, as a defender, he created more chances (7) for Victor Osimhen in Ivory Coast, than any of the winners or forward players.
Energetic and tireless, he justified why Bright Osayi-Samuel was more like a spectator on match days. His best game would be against The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and Angola.
Lookman was one of the Eagles players who raised the bar at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). By all standards, it was the most spectacular thing the Atalanta man has done since he switched his allegiance from England in 2022.
He was the least of the players anyone would expect to make such a massive impact for Nigeria at the biggest football fiesta on the continent.
Finishing with three goals and one assist in seven matches at the AFCON, it is a remarkable achievement for the England-born forward, who announced himself in Europe last season in the Italian Serie A.
