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Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi is in the African Football Confederation’s (CAF) Best XI players of the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
With Africa’s most prestigious football competition having come to an end, CAF announced its team of the tournament, featuring the players who made a notable impression in African football’s most coveted tournament.
After CAF published its list, most commentators and fans of the beautiful game are in agreement that Hakimi’s spot in Africa’s best XI is well-deserved. The 23-year-old right-back was an indispensable — if not the best — player in Morocco’s AFCON squad.
Hakimi was the architect of Morocco’s qualification to the quarter-finals, scoring the round of 16 game’s winner against Malawi with a spectacular long-range freekick.
Hakimi’s performances in the group stage were equally eye-catching and indispensable for Morocco’s Atlas Lions. In a tense group-decider game against Gabon’s Panthers, Hakimi scored another sumptuous free kick to hand Morocco the equalizer that earned them the top spot in their group.
The PSG star played a major role in Morocco’s 2-0 win against Comoros, being a crucial threat to the Comoros defense thanks to his pace and good command of the ball.
In Morocco’s opening game against Ghana, however, Hakimi’s role was restricted to his defensive responsibilities against one of Africa’s toughest rivals. Still, he helped Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to maintain a clean sheet.
Read also: Morocco’s Hakimi Voted in FIFA 22 Team of the Year
Despite bidding farewell to the tournament in the quarter-finals, Hakimi’s commanding presence in Morocco’s AFCON games were befitting of a player who has consistently been ranked among the best right-backs in the world. For.
CAF’s best lineup also featured other players who shone in this year’s AFCON.
As the title winner, Senegal dominated the best XI team with four players, namely Chelsea’s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, left-back Saliou Ciss, midfielder Nampalys Mendy, and Liverpool’s superstar Sadio Mane.
Egypt, AFCON 2021 runners-up, was the second highest represented team with three players — defender Mohamed Abdelmonem, midfielder Mohamed Elneny, and Liverpool’s superstar Mohamed Salah.
The rest of the CAF’s team of the tournament included Burkina Faso defender Edmond Tapsoba, Burkina Faso midfielder Ibrahim Blati Toure, Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar, and Comoros midfielder Youssouf M’Changama.
