AFCON 2023: Mohammed Kudus misses out on group stage best XI

By
Frank Appiah
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Mohammed Kudus has been omitted from the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Best XI players from the group stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Despite his impressive performances for the Black Stars, Kudus failed to secure a spot in the lineup dominated by tournament favourites Senegal and Morocco, highlighting their promising start to the competition.

The CAF-released 4-3-3 system features Senegal’s 20-year-old Lamine Camara on the left midfield, who not only earned a spot in the Best XI but also was adjudged the best young player of the group stage. Camara is joined by Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi in the midfield.

Equatorial Guinea’s Emilio Nsue, the current top scorer with five goals in three games, leads the attack alongside Gelson Dala and Ismaila Sarr. The goalkeeper slot in the Best XI went to Equatorial Guinea’s Jesus Owono, with Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Arthur Masuaku forming the formidable back four.

Kudus, who missed Ghana’s first game due to injury, showcased his prowess in the second and third matches. Scoring a brace against Egypt and creating opportunities in the last group game against Mozambique, Kudus was named Man of The Match in both encounters. However, his absence from the prestigious list might be attributed to Ghana’s overall poor performance, leading to their untimely exit from the competition.

Ghana’s two points were not enough to propel them to the next stage

In other recognitions, Senegal’s coach Aliou Cisse was named the best coach for the group stage, having led his team to a flawless record with three wins. Lamine Camara also received acknowledgment as the best young player for his outstanding performance in Senegal’s opening game, including two goals.

 

Equatorial Guinea’s shot-stopper, Jesus Owono, was recognised as the best goalkeeper in the tournament so far, showcasing remarkable saves despite conceding three goals.

As the AFCON moves to the knockout stage, the round of 16 is set to commence on Saturday, January 27, featuring exciting fixtures such as Nigeria vs. Cameroon and defending champions Senegal against host nation Ivory Coast.