Who is the best player in recent Africa Cup of Nations tournaments?

By YPB Team

From Algeria's 2019 brilliance to Ivory Coast's 2023 home triumph, the modern AFCON has been a showcase for Africa's Premier League and Champions League stars. Who shone brightest in the recent era?

Riyad Mahrez

Outstanding player of AFCON 2019 — his creative dribbling, goals, and assists fired Algeria to their second continental title and earned him a deserved Player of the Tournament award.

Sadio Mané

Senegal's talisman finally delivered the AFCON title his nation craved at the 2021 edition, scoring the decisive penalty in the final shootout against Egypt after a heroic campaign.

Vincent Aboubakar

Cameroon's hero at AFCON 2021 scored eight goals including a stunning substitute hat-trick against Comoros, winning the Golden Boot in one of the great individual AFCON scoring feats.

Mohamed Salah

Egypt's talismanic winger led the Pharaohs to the AFCON 2021 final despite fierce competition, his individual brilliance carrying them further than their collective squad quality suggested.

Yaya Touré

Ivory Coast's towering midfield powerhouse combined physical dominance with technical excellence across the 2010s AFCON campaigns, eventually helping the Elephants win the 2015 tournament.

Sébastien Haller

Ivory Coast's striker delivered crucial goals at AFCON 2023 on home soil, justifying his selection after his personal illness struggles with clinical finishing in the title-winning campaign.

Wilfried Zaha

Ivory Coast's wing wizard provided electrifying runs and decisive creativity in the 2023 AFCON on home soil, his direct dribbling making him one of the tournament's most dangerous attackers.

Achraf Hakimi

Morocco's dynamic right-back has been one of African football's most complete players in the 2020s, his attacking and defensive contributions elevating the Atlas Lions' AFCON performances.

André Ayew

Ghana's technically gifted forward has been a consistent AFCON performer across multiple editions of the modern tournament, contributing goals and assists as the Black Stars' most influential attacker.

Baghdad Bounedjah

Algeria's striker scored the only goal of the 2019 AFCON final against Senegal in the first minute, a defining early strike that delivered the Desert Foxes their second continental title.

Islam Slimani

Algeria's powerful striker contributed key goals throughout their 2019 AFCON triumph, forming a lethal partnership with Mahrez and Bounedjah to carry the Fennecs to glory.

Mohamed Aboutrika

Egypt's elegant attacking midfielder orchestrated three consecutive AFCON triumphs from 2006 to 2010 with creative intelligence and technical brilliance that defined an era.

Edouard Mendy

Senegal's world-class goalkeeper was critical to their 2021 AFCON triumph, his imposing presence giving the Teranga Lions the defensive foundation they needed to claim the title.

Naby Keita

Guinea's gifted midfielder has been a recurring AFCON tournament standout, his technical quality and dynamic driving runs making him one of the most watched players in recent editions.

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