AFCON 2025: Onyedika, Chukwueze star in Group Stage Round 3 Best XI

The final round of the AFCON 2025 group stage delivered a wave of authoritative performances as teams sealed qualification and momentum ahead of the knockouts.

Rotation players seized their chance, established stars reaffirmed their value, and tactical discipline met attacking flair across the continent.

Nigeria’s Raphael Onyedika and Samuel Chukwueze stood tall, but they were far from alone in a Best XI packed with decisive contributions.

Edouard Mendy once again underlined his pedigree as one of Africa’s most reliable goalkeepers in Senegal’s 3-0 win over Benin Republic.

The Chelsea and Al-Ahli goalkeeper made four important saves and was instrumental in preserving a clean sheet, particularly after Senegal were reduced to ten men following Kalidou Koulibaly’s dismissal. His calm presence, command of the box and concentration ensured the Teranga Lions closed the group stage with authority.

Kreppin Diatta delivered a complete modern full-back performance from right-back for Senegal, combining attacking menace with defensive responsibility.

He created two chances, provided an assist, and consistently stretched the Benin Republic backline with his forward runs. Defensively, Diatta matched his attacking output with nine defensive actions, making him a key figure in Senegal’s dominant group finish.

At 33, Abdoulaye Seck proved age is no barrier to excellence at AFCON 2025. The experienced centre-back opened the scoring against Benin Republic with a towering header and anchored Senegal’s defence throughout the contest.

With nine defensive actions and commanding aerial presence, Seck played a vital role in yet another Senegalese clean sheet.

Zineddine Belaid took full advantage of his opportunity in Algeria’s rotated side against Equatorial Guinea. The JS Kabylie defender scored the opening goal in a 3-1 victory and showed composure well beyond that of a deputy option.

Belaid’s performance strengthened Algeria’s depth and made a strong case for greater involvement as the tournament progresses.

Christopher Operi produced one of the standout individual performances of Round 3 in Ivory Coast’s dramatic comeback win over Gabon.

Replacing Ghislain Konan at left-back, Operi was named man of the match after creating a game-high six chances. Two of those chances became assists, as his relentless attacking play transformed Ivory Coast’s left flank.

Samuel Chukwueze finally translated his club form into national team dominance with a dazzling display against Uganda. Operating seamlessly in Eric Chelle’s tactical setup, Chukwueze provided two assists and created five chances in Nigeria’s 3-1 victory.

With seven chances created and three big chances overall at AFCON 2025, he has emerged as one of the tournament’s most dangerous creative forces.

Azzedine Ounahi rolled back the years with a performance reminiscent of his 2022 World Cup heroics. The Moroccan midfielder dominated the tempo of his side’s final group game, controlling possession and dictating play from central areas.

His intelligence, balance and technical quality once again highlighted his importance to Morocco’s midfield structure.

Raphael Onyedika was the heartbeat of Nigeria’s midfield as the Super Eagles completed the group stage with a perfect record.

The man-of-the-match against Uganda showcased his box-crashing instincts with two goals, while also controlling proceedings with 70 completed passes from 72 attempts. His blend of discipline, timing and composure marked him out as one of the most complete midfield performances of the round.

Ibrahim Maza delivered another majestic display for Algeria in their 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea. In just 61 minutes, the young midfielder scored once, assisted another and created four chances for his teammates.

Maza’s efficiency and creativity were central to Algeria finishing top of Group E with a commanding display that shows their title credentials.

Gael Kakuta reminded everyone of his quality with a masterclass performance in DR Congo’s 3-0 victory over Botswana.

The former Chelsea man was involved in all three goals, scoring twice and assisting the third in a dominant display. His influence between the lines and clinical end product powered DR Congo into the knockouts on a high.

Ayoub El Kaabi continued his flair for the spectacular with another vintage overhead kick in Morocco’s 3-0 win over Zambia.

The striker scored twice to take his tally to three goals, placing him among the joint-top scorers of the group stage. El Kaabi’s instinct, movement and finishing once again made him one of AFCON 2025’s most feared forwards.