GK - Yassine Bouno (Morocco)
Cameroon's Andre Onana came close to the starting line-up after almost guiding Inter Milan to the Champions League trophy. But, an in-out-in again history with Cameroon and a shaky start at Manchester United is too much of a risk. Instead, Youssef 'Safe Hands' Bouno gets the nod after a year where the AL Hilal keeper took his country to the World Cup semifinals followed by an unlikely but impressive Europa League victory.

RB - Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
The PSG rightback is arguably the best in his position in the world, never mind Africa. At 25, Hakimi is reaching the peak of his powers delivering goals and assists and becoming a serious threat at set-pieces to boot. Passable at defending, like all in the wingback position these days, it's all about attack-attack-attack for Achraf.

CB - Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo)
Already named in CAF's Best XI for 2023 after incredible leadership for both club and country, so who are we to disagree? Mbemba has the unenviable task of holding together Marseille's back four and will be the player most missed by the Ligue 1 giants. As captain of his country, Mbemba will be expected to keep things tight at the back and chip in from set-pieces from the front and add to his three goals scored so far this season.

CB - Nayef Aguerd (Morocco)
After a shaky start at West Ham due to injury, Aguerd is now a stalwart at the back, marshaled his club to a European trophy last season and a current Top 6 Premier League spot. That's not even mentioning his role in taking Morocco to the World Cup semifinals (although he missed that crucial game through injury). Aguerd forms part of a sturdy Moroccan spine in our best XI.

LB - Rayan Aït-Nouri (Algeria)
The Wolves leftback is a real one to watch at AFCON 2023. The 22-year-old has made the Premier League club enormous fun to watch and his wingback dynamism is being translated to the Algerian side. Tune in to find out why the former Angers fullback is being chased by both Liverpool and Chelsea.

RM - Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
Another player to make CAF's Africa XI and one who could set AFCON 2023 alight. The omnipresent midfielder is in outstanding form for West Ham and has been shortlisted for the December Player of the month. Ghana could go far if Kudus can translate his form from England to the Ivory Coast.

CM - Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
Admittedly, the Moroccan midfield marshal has looked lost since his move to Manchester United, but who isn't lost at Old Trafford? Amrabat's soccer super powers in midfield come into force when turning out for Morocco, which saw the footballer in pretty much every World Cup best XI for Qatar 2022.

LM - Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)
Tottenham's Senegalese midfielder is already a breakout star in the Premier League this season, with the 21-year-old signing a new deal at White Hart Lane until 2030 after becoming a starter for Ange Postecoglou. The same could be on the cards at AFCON for a soccer dynamo who will cover every blade of grass in Ivory Coast for the defending champions.

FOR - Mohamed Salah (Egpyt)
A Premier League and Champions League winner for Liverpool, Mo Salah is now looking to add an Africa Cup of Nations to an already stuffed trophy cabinet. Arguably the best individual talent in Ivory Coast, but may not have the supporting cast in the Pharaohs squad to see his dream come true.

FOR - Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
For one of Europe’s leading forwards whose goals delivered a Serie A title to Napoli, Victor Osimhen is playing catch-up on the international stage. The 25-year-old made his debut in AFCON 2019, playing just a cameo role, but was unable to play in AFCON 2021, due a COVID-19 positive test. The Super Eagles failed to make the 2022 World Cup, so AFCON in Ivory Coast is a chance to both change his country’s fortunes in the competition, and maybe even change clubs while he’s at it.

FOR - Iñaki Williams (Ghana)

Although Iñaki Williams is now 29 and has been playing at the highest level in LaLiga with Athletic Bilbao for almost ten years, the Ghanian forward is still a relative novice on the international level. Williams opted to play for Ghana in 2022 having initially opted for Spain, where he was born. In that time, Williams has scored just once in 13 games, but AFCON 2023 feels like the moment to finally make his mark outside of Spain.