Three Nigeria Players Named in AFCON Team of the Tournament but Not Victor Osimhen
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament was revealed on Wednesday by the Confederation of African Football.
Three players from champions Ivory Coast made the XI - midfielders Franck Kessie and Jean Michael Seri, plus left-back Ghislain Konan.
A trio of Nigerians also made the cut in the shape of right-back Ola Aina, winger Ademola Lookman and central defender William Troost-Ekong, who was voted as the Player of the Tournament.
However, Nigeria's star striker Victor Osimhen was not included.
Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong (center) made it into the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament but teammate Victor Osimhen (left) did not
IMAGO/ZUMA Wire/Kim Price
Osimhen was 2023's African Footballer of the Year but he scored just one goal in seven AFCON games for Nigeria.
He was beaten to a place in the Team of the Tournament by DR Congo's Yoane Wissa and Golden Boot winner Emilio Nsue, who scored five goals in four games for Equatorial Guinea.
Ronwen Williams was an obvious choice for the goalkeeper's spot. The 32-year-old kept five clean sheets in seven games for South Africa, as well was saving six penalties in two shootout wins for the side that finished with bronze medals.
The other players honored with a place in the Team of the Tournament were DR Congo center-back Chancel Mbemba and South Africa midfielder Teboho Mokoena.
2023 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament
- Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
- Defenders: Ola Aina (Nigeria), William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria), Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo), Ghislain Konan (Ivory Coast)
- Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena (South Africa), Jean Michael Seri (Ivory Coast), Franck Kessie (Ivory Coast)
- Forwards: Yoane Wissa (DR Congo), Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)