African countries gave a good account of the continent during the group phase of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Morocco and Senegal are the only countries to progress to the Round of 16 with Ghana, Tunisia and Cameroon eliminated
Senegal finished as Group A runners-up while Morocco proved doubters wrong by leading Group F.
Undoubtedly, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been full of surprises, and it was a herculean task to pick an African XI, giving the number of standout performances from various players.
However, we look at the top African players who have performed admirably thus far.
1. Aymen Dahmen – [MOROCCO]
One of the few standout players on a Tunisian team full of inconsistent performances was 25-year-old Aymen Dahmen.
Albeit crashing out of the group stages, the Tunisian goalkeeper was a reliable presence in goal for the Carthage Eagles, making nine saves including a clean sheet against defending champions France.
Dahmen was the best-performing African goalkeeper; conceding the joint-fewest goals (1) and kept the most-clean sheets (2) of any African goalkeeper at the World Cup.
In three starts, Dahmen made 42 successful passes and had two vital clearances.
2. Achraf Hakimi – [MOROCCO]
The pacey right back was a constant presence in the Moroccan defense that allowed in just one goal in three games during the group stages.
The 24-year-old provided the assist for Youssef En-Neysri’s goal in the Atlas Lions’ crucial 2-1 win against Canada.
In the three group stage games, no right back for an African team made more interceptions (24) or won more tackles (10) than the PSG fullback.
Hakimi successfully completed 98 passes and triumphed in 4 aerial duels without picking up a single yellow card.
3. Kalidou Koulibaly – [SENEGAL]
In the absence of talisman Sadio Mane, Koulibaly stepped up to inspire the African champions to the Round of 16, finishing second behind European giants Netherlands.
The 31-year-old scored the match winner in the Teranga Lions’ vital 2-1 victory over Ecuador to guarantee their passage into the next round.
Compared to any other defender for an African team, Koulibaly won the joint-most aerial duels (8), most tackles (5), and duels (19).
In his three appearances, the Chelsea defender kept one clean sheet and completed 120 passes without receiving a booking.
4. Jean-Charles Castelleto – [CAMEROON]
French-born Jean-Charles Castelleto, a steady presence in a shaky Cameroonian defense, had 112 touches, completed 66 passes, and scored the indomitable Lions’ first goal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The 27-year-old made six interceptions, completed three key tackles, and won eight duels without being booked in 180 minutes of play.
The Nantes defender bowed out of the group stage with the most goal involvement by a defender for an African team (2 G/A), making 12 clearances, winning four aerial duels, and, most significantly, succeeding in every tackle he attempted.
5. Romain Saiss – [MOROCCO]
Romain Saiss, the captain of the Atlas Lions, is the leader of the Walid Regragui-led side that kept two clean sheets in three games.
In his team’s two-nil victory over 2018 semifinalist Belgium, the defender scored the opening goal and preserved a clean sheet for his team in the process.
The 32-year-old played every game without receiving a booking while completing 106 passes, winning 11 duels and five aerial duels.
6. Sofyan Amrabat – [MOROCCO]
Sofyan Amrabat is the heart and soul of Morocco’s midfield, protecting the back four and being a combative presence in the middle of the field.
The Fiorentina midfielder made five interceptions, completed 118 passes, and won eight of his contested duels.
The 26-year-old was crucial to the Atlas Lions finishing as Group F winners over Croatia and Belgium with five clearances and four tackles won.
7. Thomas Partey – [GHANA]
Arsenal’s Thomas Partey showed his class in the midfield for the Ghanaian national team in Qatar.
The midfielder featured in all three of the Black Stars’ games, making two key passes and winning five tackles.
In the competition, Partey recorded the most touches (227) and passes (146) of any African team midfielder.
The 29-year-old also won twenty (20) duels, alongside six aerial duels in a disappointing group stage exit for the Black stars.
8. Hakim Ziyech – [MOROCCO]
Hakim Ziyech provided a much-needed spark for the Moroccan side all through their group stage games.
The 29-year-old completed 64 passes and won 20 duels, finishing the group stage with a goal and assist to help Morocco top the group.
Ziyech completed seven successful dribbles and had three key passes.
9. Mohammed Kudus – [GHANA]
Ajax’s golden boy Mohammed Kudus had himself a World Cup to remember.
The youngster was the most impressive member in a newly-formed Black Stars attack.
Kudus finished the group stages with two goals, an assist, fifty-nine completed passes, and four shots on goal.
With a total of 141 touches in the three games, the 22-year-old won 19 of his duels and completed nine dribbles.
He also won a penalty that Andre Ayew failed to convert in their controversial match against Uruguay.
10. Ismaila Sarr – [SENEGAL]
Ismaila Sarr led a “Mane-less” Senegalese attack.
The Watford forward converted a penalty in the Teranga Lions’ important win against Ecuador.
In three games in the group stage, the marauding attacker made three crucial passes, had 166 touches, and completed 64 passes.
Sarr completed seven dribbles and won 20 of the duels he engaged in, creating a lot of difficulties for opposition defenders.
11. Vincent Aboubakar – [CAMEROON]
With two goals and an assist in 140 minutes of play, Vincent Aboubakar was Africa’s best performing striker in the group stages; becoming the first African player to score and provide an assist in the same match since 1966.
Aboubakar had fifty-five touches, completed twenty passes, and had five successful dribbles.
The Al Nassr striker won nine duels, and had three shots on target, scoring the only goal Brazil has conceded at the World Cup so far.
He became just the third African player in the tournament’s history to score a goal against the Selecao.
Coach: Walid Regragui – [MOROCCO]
Walid Regragui made history as one of the FIVE managers of African descent that led the African contingents to the World Cup in Qatar.
After being named as the national team’s coach in August 2022, the 47-year-old became the first manager to lead the Atlas Lions to their first knockout appearance since the 1986 World Cup.
The ex-Toulouse defender also made history by becoming the first manager to lead an African side to the top of their World Cup group since Nigeria in 1998.
Since Regragui took over the Moroccan team, the side has only conceded one goal in seven games, keeping a clean sheet in six and winning five of the games, including two of their group F matches.
