The Best XI Who Will Miss The 2019 Africa Cup Of Nations

The Africa Cup of Nations is the stage set for the very best footballers on the continent to congregate once every two years. At least, that is what is meant to happen.

Though most of the big names in African football made the cut to this summer’s tournament, there were few stars that will not be in Cairo on the account of their nations’ failure to qualify.

Here is a team of players who will not be on a plane to Egypt, but together could have won the Africa Cup of Nations.

Goalkeeper: Herve Koffi (Burkina Faso)

The Lille custodian is arguably the best goalkeeper set to miss the tournament in Egypt.

The 22-year-old keeper conceded only five goals for Burkina Faso in their six qualifying matches, but a lack of goals for the side upfront saw them crash out of the competition after coming third in Group I of the qualifiers.

Right Back: Tiago Almedia (Cape Verde)

The Académico de Viseu’s Mr. Dependable will have to watch the tournament on television at home as Cape Verde failed to reach their third Africa Cup of Nations after finishing bottom of Group L in the qualifying campaign.

Centre Back: Kabaso Chongo (Zambia)

The TP Mazembe man was a key figure for his side in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying but a lack of wins away from home meant that the defender and his team finished bottom in their group.

Centre Back: Dakonam Djene (Togo)

Bakary Kone of Burkina Faso and MKE Ankaragucu might have been the safer pick for the position but this is a slightly sentimental choice. Djene, who was once a target for Arsenal, was a central figure in the West African nation fight for space in AFCON, but the Hawks fell short of making it to Egypt after they lost to Benin.

Left Back: Wilfried Ebane Abessolo (Gabon)

One of the top five left-backs in Africa. With the exception of Nigeria who boast a wide number of players in that particular position, Wilfried Abessollo would virtually walk into any other national team on the continent.

Indeed, so complete is Abessolo’s skill-set, he generally lines up in an advanced midfield position for his country rather than in the flying full-back role he has perfected at Lorient.

Central Midfield:  N’dinga Delvin (Congo-Brazzaville)

In a close-fought Group G, N’dinga Delvin’s Congo Brazzaville side missed out on a qualifying berth due to unimpressive home performances against fellow competitors Zimbabwe and DR Congo, finishing in fourth place, two points behind third-placed Liberia.

Centre midfield: Youssef Oumarou (Niger)

This was the bitter pill to swallow for Niger. Youssef Oumarou, one of Niger’s best and most creative midfielders, was suspended for the crucial group opener against eSwatini. Would NIger have fared better against a defensive eSwatini team if the former Kenitra man was available? That’s a big what if. What is for certain, however, is that at only 24, Oumarou should still be in his prime when the next Africa Cup of Nations rolls around. Mali just needs to qualify for it.

Centre midfield: Geoffrey Kondogbia (Central Africa Republic)

Central Africa Republic ran Ivory Coast close to the second spot in the race for Group H, but eventually fell in the fourth round of the qualifiers after they were held to a 2-2 all draw by Rwanda, meaning the Nemorous-born midfielder missed out on making his first appearance in the finals.

Right Wing: Oscar Murphy Dorley, (Liberia)

In a close-fought Group G, Oscar Murphy Dorley’s Liberia side missed out on a qualifying berth after they suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat to D.R Congo, who leapfrogged them into the second position to qualify for the tournament.

Left Wing: Bizimana Djihad, (Rwanda)

Much like Dorley, Djihad played in a Rwanda team devoid of too many other established names and saw his side only finish at the bottom of their qualifying group.

Striker: Pierre Aubameyang (Gabon)

He came close, but Pierre Aubameyang was not able to carry his Gabon team past Burundi in a sink or swim Group C decider, crashing out after a 1-1 draw in Bujumbura.

The 2015 Africa player of the year, Aubameyang is likely the West African country’s greatest player. His speed and finishing ability are world class and it’s a shame that he’s going to miss out on this Africa Cup of Nations.

Substitutes:

Didier Avono (Gabon),Gbegnon Simon (Togo),Luciano Matsoso ( Lesotho), Mohamed Saleh Solah-Mahrek (Libya), Charles Kabore (Burkina Faso), Nelson Divarassone (Mozambique), Paston Daka, (Zambia).