CF’s XI which is a collection across the teams and reveals the best eleven players so far had some big names like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez. 

Host Egypt who won all their three group stage games had four players on the XI while Algeria who also have a 100% record at AFCON 2019 have two players. 

No Nigerian makes the list and the eight-player reserve list but a case would have been made for Kenneth Omeruo who was Nigeria’s Man of the Match in their 1-0 win over Guinea. 

While Ahmed Hegazi has been solid at the back for Egypt, it could be said that Omeruo has had a better AFCON 2019 than Yaya Banana of Cameroon who partners the Egyptian defender in central defence. 

Banana wasn’t that dominant in Cameroon’s first game of AFCON 2019 although he did manage to grab a goal in a 2-0 win for the Indomitable Lions over Guinea Bissau. 

He was replaced by Gaeton Bong in defence for Cameroon’s second game but he returned to put in a strong performance in the following game. 

His place in the team over an Omeruo who was Nigeria’s best player in their first two games raises questions. 

Even Morocco’s Medhi Benatia has been more impressive than Banana in defence. 

The absence of Trezeguet on the XI is also bizarre as the Kasımpaşa forward has been one of Egypt’s best players at AFCON 2019. 

Trezeguet delivered fine performances for Egypt, scoring a goal and supplying an assist as Egypt finished top of Group A.