Absent: Mohamed Salah
The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off this weekend in Morocco. A total of 24 nations will compete for the prestigious title, with the final set for January 18th. Egypt boasts the most titles in the tournament’s history and Mohamed Salah aims to guide his team to their eighth victory.
Despite never having won AFCON, Salah and Egypt are not the frontrunners, with that title going to Morocco. Walid Regragui’s squad made headlines by being the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022. Achraf Hakimi recently earned the title of African Player of the Year and also holds the distinction of being the most valuable player in the AFCON tournament. Using Transfermarkt’s market values, we’ve identified the most valuable XI from the players participating in AFCON.
Most Valuable AFCON Combined XI
The combined AFCON XI features players from eight nations, with a total market value of €559 million. Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen will carry the expectations of his country after they failed to qualify for the World Cup. He leads the forward line, flanked by Egypt’s Omar Marmoush and Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo, both of whom play for Manchester clubs.
Completing the midfield trio are Ademola Lookman, Carlos Baleba, and Pape Matar Sarr. Despite a challenging season, Brighton’s Baleba remains the highest-valued midfielder in the tournament. Hakimi leads as the most valuable player in this squad and is part of a back four that includes Yehvann Diouf, who is the least valuable member of the team at €9 million.
