Qatar 2022: 5 Best African Players of the FIFA World Cup Group Stages

• The five African nations at the 2022 FIFA World Cup have put in the best performances by teams at the tournament in many years
• Senegal and Morocco - as expected - qualified for the Round of 16 in Qatar
• Cameroon, Morocco and Tunisia failed to do, but players from these teams also impressed

After a slow start, the African teams at the 2022 FIFA World Cup found their feet toward the end of the group stages.

Senegal and Morocco are through to the Round of 16, while Cameroon, Ghana and Tunisia are on the way home, though not without making a fist of proceedings. Several players from these teams put in impressive performances. Below are Sports Brief's top five.

Hakim Ziyech - Morocco

Ziyech has been Morocco's best attacking outlet, registering a goal and an assist in the opening three group stages matches, and is expected to continue his fine form.

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Vincent Aboubakar - Cameroon

His header against Brazil meant he had scored two goals and managed an assist while featuring for an average of 47 minutes in the group stages, by far Cameroon's most effective player as they crashed out of the competition.

Mohammed Salisu - Ghana

Salisu's impressive reading of danger signs, aggressive nature, last-ditch tackling, and threat in the opposition box during set pieces has contributed to Ghana's near qualification for the last 16, a feat they haven't managed since 2010.

Ismaila Sarr - Senegal

Watford's Ismaila Sarr has taken up the role of 'chief enforcer' with aplomb, driving the Lions of Teranga past hosts Qatar and winning a crucial penalty as the African champions dispatched Ecuador to book their place in the round of 16.

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Ashraf Hakimi - Morocco

The 24-year-old has been challenged to be on the defensive end more than he's probably used to at club level with Paris Saint Germain but has risen to the occasion, as part of a defence that has conceded just one goal in their opening three group stages matches.

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The former Cameroon captain led the Indomitable Lions to a historic victory over Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar.

Vincent Aboubakar's injury-time header earned Cameroon victory but it was not enough as the five-time African champions got eliminated from the competition.

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They not only became the first African team to defeat La Seleccao at the global showpiece event but also the first to not lose against the South Americans, Sports Brief reported.

Up to that point, Brazil had not much as drawn with or lost to a team from the continent in the tournament. Cameroon, the only team from Africa to have ever beaten Brazil - 2003 FIFA Confederations - made it two wins against their esteemed opponents.