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Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey has been named in Africa best XI by football data collectors Squawka Football Africa.
The Atletico Madrid starman who has been a transfer target for some English Premier League clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United was the only Ghanaian named in the squad.
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He was included following his spectacular form for Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Laliga and in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Partey has been a key figure to manager Diego Simeone side and with his £40m clause, Arsenal are keen on landing his signature.
Below is full squad
GK: Andre Onana (Cameroon, Ajax)
The 26-year old made it to the list following his outstanding form for Ajax FC and the Cameroon national team.
The 2018 Cameroonian footballer of the year beat off competition from Ghanaian netminder Richard Ofori and Dennis Onyango to secure the position.
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Onana has enjoyed a nice spell with Ajax after going through the ranks and files at the Barcelona Academy at age 13.
Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast, Tottenham)
Aurier has become an important figure in the Tottenham Hospurs squad, capping 49 matches with 3 goals since joining the team in 2017.
He was part of the CAF Team of Year 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2017. He was also part of the 2015 AFCON team of the tournament.
Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal, Napoli)
Kalidou Koulibaly is arguably the most sought after African defender in the European market.
The 28-year old who is the deputy skipper at Napoli has capped 173 matches for the serie A outfit with 10 goals since joining from Genk in 2014.
Koulibaly was the 2018, 2019 Senegal player of the year and named the best defender in the Italian serie A in 2018-2019 season.
His outstanding performance earned him a nomination in the 2019 FIFA FIFPRO World 11.
Joel Matip (Cameroon, Liverpool)
The 28-year old centre-back has capped 84 times for Liverpool with 4 goals since joining the Premier League outfit in 2016 from Schalke 04
He was named the PFA Player of the month September 2019.
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Dortmund)
Hakimi has been incredible for Borussia Dortmund since joining the team on loan from Real Madrid, capping 46 times with 5 goals for the Bundesliga side.
READ ALSO: Atletico Madrid to double Thomas Partey’s salary
As a 21-year old, Hakimi has capped 26 times for the Morocco national team with 2 goals to his credit.
He is a two times CAF youth player of the year (2018, 2019)
Wilfred Ndidi ( Nigeria, Leicester City)
Though he is not major figure at the Nigeria national team and Leicester City but Ndidi has an impressive record with the national team and has made it to the squad.
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria, Man City)
Mahrez has become the finest star for the Algeria national team and Manchester City especially from last season through to this season.
He led the Algeria national team to win the 2019 AFCON and had a great impact to the team’s success at the AFCON.
As a three times Algerian footballer of the year, Mahrez is also CAF footballer of the year 2016 and his exceptional performance earned him a place in the eleven man squad.
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Sadio Mane (Senegal, Liverpool)
Mane has been arguably the face of Liverpool and has made it to the list.
He led Liverpool to win the UEFA Champions League last season after beating Tottenham Hospurs in the grand finale.
His statistics both at the national team and club Level makes him outstanding and deserves to be in the squad. He is the reigning African Footballer of the Year.
Mohammed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
Salah has had an incredible spell with Liverpool, making him of the most important figures at the Jurgen Klopp’ team.
Just like Sadio Mane, Salah contributed immensely to Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League success last season, forming a formidable partnership with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firminho upfront.
Pierre-Emerick Augbameyang (Gabon, Arsenal)
Augbameyang has been a gem upfront for Arsenal since joining them from Borussia Dortmund and has become a target for FC Barcelona who are busily finding Luis Suarez’ replacement.
Augbameyang is the eleventh player on the list.
Sadio Mané, Riyad Mahrez, Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. 😍
Is this the best AFCON-only XI right now? pic.twitter.com/CqnUGPwI80
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 21, 2020
