Africa Team of the Year 2023: Who made the CAF XI?

The Confederation of African Football has announced its picks for this year’s best male and female footballers.

In a ceremony on Monday night, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced Victor Osimhen as the African Footballer of the Year.

The Nigerian star won the prestigious award after an incredible 2022-23 season, where he scored 31 goals to help Napoli win the Serie A title for the first time in over 30 years.

The African Footballer of the Year award was presented after CAF’s official Team of the Year was revealed during the ceremony.

Manchester United’s Andre Onana made the team despite losing the competition for the Goalkeeper of the Year award to Yassine Bounou.

The Team of the Year’s three-man backline consisted of two Ligue 1 players and a surprise pick. Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi was lined up alongside Marseille’s Chancel Mbemba and Al Hilal’s Kalidou Koulibaly. The Senegalese defender was picked despite spending a difficult 2022-23 season at Chelsea that eventually led to his move to Saudi Arabia in the summer.

In midfield, Manchester United’s Sofian Amrabat was featured alongside West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus and Napoli’s André-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

Unsurprisingly, the Team of the Year’s attacking line is once again dominated by Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. The pair play alongside Osimhen, who is the only Nigerian star in the lineup.