The Confederation of African Football has released the best 11 players for the recently-concluded U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Algeria, with highly sought-after Golden Eaglets captain Yahaya Lawali the only Nigerian named in the squad.
As revealed by the Technical Study Group of the competition, the CAF Best XI was dominated by the victorious Senegal team with four players.
Despite Nigeria’s agonising exit from the U-17 AFCON in Algeria following their 2-1 loss to Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals, Lawali’s performances in four games left a lasting impression that earned him a well-deserved place in the prestigious line-up.
The 16-year-old right-back showcased his talent and versatility, earning Man-of-The-Match honours against Zambia and Morocco.
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In goal, Senegal’s Serigne Diouf exhibited exceptional skills, conceding only two goals throughout the tournament.
Completing the formidable backline alongside Lawali are Senegal’s Serigne Diouf, who commanded the central defence with authority, Hamid Eid from Morocco and Lacina Traoré at left-back.
In midfield, Rachid Ouedraogo contributed significantly to Cameroon’s performance to earn his spot, while Abdou Aziz Fall (Senegal), the midfield maestro, also got a nod in the centre of the field, as well as Malian Sekou Kone.
Amara Diouf (Senegal), the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, secured his place in the attacking line alongside Mamadou Doumbia (Mali) and Souleymane Alio, who was also named the tournament’s best player, following the crucial role he played in helping Burkina Faso qualify for the U-17 World Cup.
With a 2-1 victory over Morocco in the final on Friday, the Teranga Cubs emerged as the champions of the tournament.