On Sunday, 18th January 2026, Senegal upstaged hosts Morocco to lift the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Rabat following a controversial 1-0 win over the Atlas Lions.
Although the 17-minute added-time hiatus that saw Senegal players and staff threaten to forfeit the game, citing refereeing bias tainted the image of what was otherwise viewed as a memorable AFCON, there were still plenty of positives to write home about.
Proper individual performances have been among the main talking points. With that in mind, Striver Football ranks the top 10 players at the just-concluded tournament:
Calvin Bassey had a tournament to be proud of. Although Nigeria missed out on the main prize, the Fulham man truly established himself as the present and future of the side.
He was a defensive marvel, winning 94% of his aerial duels and recording the most interceptions in the knockout stages.
Although he earned two yellow cards, including a needless one he picked while Nigeria were 4-0 up against Mozambique, he was generally a relaxed presence throughout their campaign.
Alex Iwobi was the heartbeat of the Nigerian set up playing deep in midfield. The former Arsenal man produced a display to remember. He recorded 46 line-breaking passes, more than any other midfielder.
He also dictated the tempo of the side as they celebrated a historic third-place finish at the tournament.
The tournament’s most efficient "Quarterback." Iwobi recorded 46 line-breaking passes, more than any other midfielder. He successfully transitioned into a deep-lying playmaker, dictating the tempo for Nigeria’s high-powered attack.
The Manchester United winger became a talismanic figure for the Elephants throughout the tournament. He scored three goals and registered an assist as he firmly established himself as the side’s main man.
The tournament showed he is finally living up to his potential. Having made his Ivory Coast debut in 2021, he accumulated just 10 more caps in the next four-and-a-half years.
His display in Morocco however, could be the bedrock for a successful international career in the years to come.
Despite Egypt’s fourth-place finish, Mo Salah’s individual class was undeniable. He reached a landmark 10 career AFCON goals during the tournament, scoring four goals this edition.
While the trophy remains elusive, his consistency at 33 remains elite. After a turbulent period with Liverpool shortly before the start of the AFCON, he will go back with a renewed sense of confidence that he can contribute and help stabilise Liverpool’s shaky form.
Pape Gueye was the hero for Senegal as he scored the winning goal against Morocco in the final.
His energetic box to box displays for the side were key, and he scored three goals, two of them coming during the group stages.
Lookman was statistically the most productive player of the tournament. Sofascore gave him a 7.82 rating, to make him their player of the tournament.
The former England U21 star scored 3 goals and registered 4 assists. His creativity was the engine that powered Nigeria to the bronze medal.
The former Sevilla goalkeeper won the golden glove, having conceded just once all tournament during regulation time. He kept five shutouts and even made two penalty saves during their semi-final clash against Nigeria.
Bounou just keeps getting better and better with age, and has now established himself as one of the greatest keepers Africa has ever produced.
Victor Osimhen led Nigeria by example throughout the tournament. Individually, he finished on four goals and two assists.
He pressed like an animal without the ball, and terrorised defences with his electric ability to run the channels. His competitive spirit showed during their round of 16 clash against Mozambique. During the game, he berated Lookman for failing to pass the ball to him once, underpinning his desire to win.
Osimhen also now falls just two goals shy of Rashidi Yekini’s all-time Nigeria record and proved he is the ultimate world-class #9.
Brahim Díaz was a scoring machine, netting 5 goals and becoming the first Moroccan to score in five different AFCON matches.
Though his missed penalty in the final was heartbreaking, his technical brilliance was the highlight of the tournament. Perhaps if the tables had turned and he had scored that penalty, he would have walked away with the MVP award.
Sadio Mane proved himself the king of AFCON football as he was named the official player of the tournament.
The former Liverpool man broke the all-time record for goal involvements (20) and provided the assist for the winning goal in the final.
More importantly, his leadership during the “walk off” protest in the final spared Senegal a moment of embarrassment. The boy from Bambali is now earning genuine shouts for a chance at winning a Nobel Peace Price for his efforts on the pitch that day, and beyond.
