Most Valuable African Starting XI After End of the 2023/24 Season

Most Valuable African Starting XI After End of the 2023/24 Season

Edwin Kiplagat
May 28, 2024 at 10:09 AM
In this article:
Victor Osimhen logo
V. Osimhen
Napoli logoFNigeria logo
Mohammed Kudus logo
M.Kudus
West Ham United logoMGhana logo
Mohamed Salah logo
M. Salah
Liverpool logoFEgypt logo
Ousmane Diomande logo
O.Diomande
Sporting CP logoDIvory Coast logo
Nigeria logo
Nigeria
Nigeria
21
Ghana logo
Ghana
Ghana
24
Egypt logo
Egypt
Egypt
27
Amine Gouiri logo
A. Gouiri
Stade Rennais FC logoFFrance logo
Achraf Hakimi logo
A.Hakimi
Paris Saint Germain (PSG) logoDMorocco logo
Rayan Aït Nouri logo
R. A. Nouri
Wolves logoDAlgeria logo
Pape Matar Sarr logo
P. M. Sarr
Tottenham Hotspur logoMSenegal logo
Edmond Tapsoba logo
E. Tapsoba
Bayer Leverkusen logoDBurkina Faso logo
  • The 2024 summer transfer window opens mid-next month
  • Many African players will be changing clubs in the summer
  • Sports Brief looks at Africa's most valuable starting eleven

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The 2023/24 club football season ends this weekend with the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund on June 1.

Throughout the season, we've witnessed record-breaking performances, new stars emerging, legendary players leaving the game, and historic performances by African footballers.

This season, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, and Serhou Guirassy were standout African players in Europe.

Mohammed Kudus, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Amine Gouiri, Pape Matar Sarr, Cheick Doucoure, Edmond Tapsoba, Ousamne Diomande, Achraf Hakimi, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, AFCON
Ghana's Mohammed Kudus makes the list of Africa's most valuable starting XI, while Nigeria's Ademola Lookman falls out. Photos by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar and Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto.
Source: Getty Images

It will be a busy summer for football in Europe and America. The 2024 European Championship and Copa America will keep fans entertained before club season returns.

The transfer market will open on June 14 and some blockbuster deals are expected to go down. Some African players will definitely be changing clubs before the window closes.

Incredible performances by African players have seen their market value jump. Sports Brief looks at the most valuable African starting eleven, according to Transfermarkt.

Most valuable starting XI: 4-3-2-1 formation

Goalkeeper: Andre Onana

The Manchester United and Cameroon star is arguably the best goalkeeper in Africa. He joined the Red Devils last season, but his performances were dismal. However, he improved significantly this time around. He played one match at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and won the FA Cup with his club. He is valued at €35 million.

Right-back: Achraf Hakimi

No right full-back in Africa comes close to the Moroccan. He has delivered consistent performances at Paris Saint-Germain. He missed a crucial penalty at the 2023 AFCON but continues to show why he is one of Africa's best players. Value: €65mil.

Centre-back: Ousmane Diomande

At 20, Diomande is one of the most exciting central defenders in the world. Following an impressive season with Sporting CP, he has been linked with moves to several top clubs in Europe. He played two matches at the 2023 AFCON with Ivory Coast and won the Portuguese league. Value: €40mil.

Centre-back: Edmond Tapsoba

Tapsoba was a mainstay in the Bayer Leverkusen team that won the Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal. Ivory Coast's Odilon Kossounou and Nayef Aguerd are not that far off. The Burkina Faso star is valued at €40mil.

Left-back: Rayan Aït-Nouri

Africa doesn't have a deep pool of left-back talent. Ait-Nouri is the best in that position in Africa by some distance. The Algerian international is valued at €35mil.

Midfielder: Cheick Doucoure

The Crystal Palace and Mali midfielder is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon but remains one of the most exciting, deep-lying midfielders. Like his compatriot Yves Bissouma, he is valued at €35mil.

Midfielder: Pape Matar Sarr

It is hard to fathom that Sarr is only 21. The Tottenham Hotspur and Senegal midfielder had a great 2023/24 season, his first in English football. He was a regular this past season under Ange Postecoglou. He is valued at €45mil.

Right-wing: Mohamed Salah

The Egyptian is still one of Africa's best players despite being in his early 30s. The Liverpool forward continues to produce consistent numbers at his club. He is valued at €55mil.

Left-wing: Amine Gouiri

The Algerian winger is valued at €28mil. The Stade Rennais winger is higher than Sadio Mane, Amine Adli, Said Benrahma, and Wilfried Zaha. He had 11 goals and three assists this past season in Ligue 1, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him move elsewhere.

Attacking midfielder: Mohammed Kudus

Kudus had a great first season in English football with West Ham United. He arrived at the club last summer as the second most expensive signing and has lived up to it. The Ghanaian is valued at €50mil.

Striker: Victor Osimhen

Osimhen is the reigning African Footballer of the Year and will likely leave Napoli this summer. Valued at €110mil, the Nigerian is the most valuable footballer in Africa. The Napoli star won the Serie A title and Golden Boot in 2022/23.

The most notable players missing here are Victor Boniface, Serhou Guirassy, Ademola Lookman, and Simon Adingra.

Osimhen named in team of the season

Sports Brief also previously reported on Osimhen making the Serie A team of the season despite an underwhelming campaign.

The 25-year-old Super Eagles striker registered 15 league goals in 24 games, a significant decline from his 2022/23 season.

Authors
Edwin Kiplagat photo
Edwin Kiplagat
Edwin Kiplagat has five years of experience in journalism working as a Sports Editor at Africa Insight Communications and ESPN. Edwin Kiplagat is a Bachelor's Degree holder in journalism from the Multimedia University of Kenya.