Liverpool star duo feature in Senegal dominated AFCON XI

With the Africa Cup of Nations kicking off in Egypt this Friday we take a look at the highest rated XI that have been selected for the tournament using our statistical ratings from Europe’s top five leagues last season. 

Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy (Senegal) - 6.85 

While Sadio Mane will be in the spotlight in attack, Senegal’s rearguard is key to the fact that they are considered pre-tournament favourites by some, with Mendy offering a reliable last line of defence. The previous campaign was the 27-year-old’s first in one of Europe’s top five leagues, with the keeper playing a pivotal role in an excellent eighth placed finish following promotion. His tally of 14 clean sheets ranked third in Ligue 1. 

Right-back: Youcef Atal (Algeria) - 7.48 

On the topic of player’s enjoying an impressive debut season in a major European league, Atal proved to be an extremely astute acquisition by Nice. Arriving from Kortrijk in Belgium, the 23-year-old, who operated in a variety of different roles on the flanks, the youngster’s dribbling ability caught the eye in particular, completing a whopping four per 90 minutes. With six goals to his name as well as 2.7 tackles per 90 minutes there will be plenty of top clubs monitoring Atal’s performances in Egypt. 

Centre-back: Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal) - 7.06 

If reports are to be believed Koulibaly could be set to become the world’s most expensive defender this summer having alerted the interest of Europe’s elite. The 27-year-old has been a mainstay at Napoli over the past five seasons and along with his obvious power from a defensive aspect the Senegal star’s ever-improving range of passing and ability to play out from the back is perhaps his greatest strength. 

Centre-back: Salif Sane (Senegal) - 7.06 

Forming a daunting defensive pairing for any side to face, Sane is another man mountain at the back for the Senegalese. As well as anticipating the game well defensively, averaging 2.3 interceptions per 90 minutes, his aerial dominance is startling having won 76.3 per cent of his duels for Schalke last season. 

Left-back: Youssouf Kone (Mali) - 7.13 

Profiting from the January sale of Fode-Ballo Toure, Kone took his chance in the Lille first team superbly in the second half of the season to ensure the club maintained their status as the best of the rest to PSG. Unlike Atal on the opposite side of the defence here, the 23-year-old’s strong suit is defending, averaging 3.5 tackles and 2.1 interceptions per 90 minutes. 

Right wing: Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast) - 7.62 

One of the most sought after players in Europe following a sensational season at Lille, Pepe earned the highest rating of any player at the Africa Cup of Nations during 2018/19. Playing from the right flank the 24-year-old scored 22 goals and registered a further 11 assists in Ligue 1 to inspire his side to a Champions League finish, averaging 2.7 dribbles per 90 minutes and earning 13 man of the match awards - only Lionel Messi and Eden Hazard won more. 

Centre midfield: Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria) - 7.21 

Still an underrated player despite making the step up to the Premier League with ease and establishing himself as one of England’s best ball winning midfielders, Ndidi will be key for a young Nigeria side this summer. Still just 22 himself, the Leicester star made the most tackles across all of Europe’s top five leagues last season (143), whilst ranking third in the Premier League for interceptions (83). 

Centre midfield: Idrissa Gueye (Senegal) - 7.14 

To say that a midfield partnership of Ndidi and Gueye would provide a solid defensive shield and platform from which to build would be an understatement. The Everton man made just one tackle fewer than the Nigerian last season (142) despite missing five matches as PSG attempted to sign the 29-year-old in January. 

Left wing: Sadio Mane (Senegal) - 7.43 

Hoping to add an international medal to his collection following his Champions League success with Liverpool, Mane would love to cap off an outstanding season from an individual perspective. Ending the Premier League campaign as the joint leading scorer (22 goals) and a Golden Boot trophy in his cabinet, if Mane can continue his form in front of goal into the summer more accolades could await. 

Forward: Mohamed Salah (Egypt) - 7.57 

While he was forced to share the award in 2018/19, Salah earned successive Golden Boot gongs for his efforts in the Premier League, supplementing his 22 strikes with a further eight assists. The Liverpool star created the fifth most chances from open play (63) and won possession in the attacking third more times than any other player in England’s top-flight (39). 

Forward: Andy Delort (Algeria) - 7.27 

Having only expressed an interest in representing Algeria at international level earlier this year, previously representing France at youth level. The 27-year-old made his debut in a warm-up victory over Mali, scoring a late match-winner and is in line to start this summer having never made a competitive international appearance to now. The striker enjoyed an excellent debut season at Montpellier, scoring 14 goals and registering seven assists.