Diaz, Diallo, Gueye headline teams of the CAN 2025 group stage | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, with the CAN 2025 group phase ending on Wednesday and the last 16 starting Saturday, correspondents Hervé Penot and Mathieu Grégoire named four-two-three-one teams of the round.

They agree on Anass Salah-Eddine at left-back, Carlos Baleba and Idrissa « Gana » Gueye deep, Brahim Diaz at No 10, and Amad Diallo on the right. Salah-Eddine, first called up in November 2025, impressed, though Achraf Hakimi’s return could shift Noussair Mazraoui across. Diaz scored three in three, including the opener against Comoros on 21 December, while Diallo’s late cameo against Gabon lifted Côte d’Ivoire alongside his understanding with Guéla Doué.

Baleba often dropped between centre-backs to build play and already leads Cameroon at 21. Gueye’s authority lets Pape Gueye break forward, and he captains this composite side.

In goal, Hervé Koffi’s shot-stopping, including against Algeria in a 1-0 matchday-two defeat, competes with Mohamed El-Shenawy, pivotal to Egypt topping their group. Koffi was withdrawn at half-time against Sudan on Wednesday. At right-back, Mazraoui has attacked space and delivered accurately, while South Africa’s Khuliso Mudau adds bite and stamina.

At centre-back, Chancel Mbemba and Axel Tuanzebe have anchored RD Congo, with Edmond Tapsoba decisive for Burkina Faso and Ramy Benseibaïni impressing as a makeshift centre-back beside Aïssa Mandi for Algeria. Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza has been a revelation, creator and scorer against Equatorial Guinea in the final group game. Mozambique’s Geny Catamo produced two goals and one assist, while for Nigeria Ademola Lookman registered one goal and two assists in the 3-2 over Tunisia, and Victor Osimhen added a goal and an assist, dominating the first half on 27 December.

Source: L'Équipe