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

> 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?

*By YPB Team · Published May 22, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-player-in-recent-africa-cup-of-nations-tournaments*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **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.
2. **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.
3. **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.
4. **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.
5. **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.
6. **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.
7. **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.
8. **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.
9. **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.
10. **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.
11. **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.
12. **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.
13. **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.
14. **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.

Tags: africa, 2020s, sports, football, players, legends