Nigerians Represented In WAFCON 2022 Group Stage Best XI
CAF released the Best XI of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations following the completion of the tournament’s group phase with two Nigerian players, Rasheedat Ajibade and Osinachi Ohale, included in the tournament’s top performers.
Players from seven countries have made the list of the of Best XI as selected by members of CAF’s Technical Study Group (TSG) after the first round.
South Africa’s consistent goalkeeper Andile Dlamini has been selected as the tournament’s leading goalkeeper so far with a defence anchored by Nigeria’s Ohale and Zambia’s Lushomo Mweemba, with wingbacks in Tunisia’s Samia Aouni and Morocco’s Zineb Redouan completing the defence.
Morocco’s inspirational captain Ghizlane Chebbak is the leading goal scorer at the tournament with three goals to date and she and the South African captain from AC Milan Jane Refiloe make up a formidable midfield combination in the heart of the pitch.
Nigeria’s fantastic Rasheedat Ajibade marauds down the wing with Cameroon’s Ajara Nchout on the other flank providing plenty of firepower down the other flank. Botswana’s Refilwe Tholakele gets the nod for the striker’s spot highest up on the pitch in tandem with the impressive attacking qualities of Zambia’s Grace Chanda just behind her.
As the tournament reaches its business end, these players will be crucial in needing to step up as their countries look to secure a coveted FIFA Women’s World Cup in their quarterfinal fixtures.
The TSG is comprised of Clementine Toure (Cote d’Ivoire head coach), Radia Fertoul (Algeria head coach), Jacqui Shipanga (Namibia Technical Director), Shilene Booysen (South Sudan head coach), Mercy Tagoe (Ghana head coach) and Amani Boukare (Tunisia U20 head coach and senior team assistant coach).
Chidi Nwoke/CAF
