The African Football Confederation announced the "Ideal XI" for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which concluded on Sunday with the host nation, Ivory Coast, winning. The ideal lineup did not include any Arab players, reflecting the significant failure of Arab national teams, which could not advance past the Round of 16 in the tournament.
The ideal lineup included players from five nations: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, and Equatorial Guinea.
**Ideal XI for Africa Cup of Nations 2023**
- Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (South Africa).
- Defense: Ghislain Konan (Ivory Coast), William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria), Chancel Mbemba (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Ola Aina (Nigeria).
- Midfield: Teboho Mokoena (South Africa), Jean Michaël Seri (Ivory Coast), Franck Kessié (Ivory Coast).
- Attack: Yuan Wissa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria), Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea).
**Absence of Arab Stars**
This is the first time since the 2015 edition, which was also won by Ivory Coast, that the ideal lineup does not feature any Arab players. In the last three editions of the tournament, the ideal teams included the following Arab players:
- From Egypt: Ahmed Hegazi, Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Abdel-Moemen, Mohamed Elneny.
- From Algeria: Raïs M'Bolhi, Adlène Guedioura, Ismaël Bennacer, Riyad Mahrez.
- From Morocco: Achraf Hakimi.
- From Tunisia: Yassine Meriah.
