AFCON 2021: Liverpool and Chelsea stars among top 10 Premier League representatives

With AFCON done and dusted, we take a look at the best rated Premier League representatives from the tournament of those to have made three or more appearances. Stars from Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United all feature in this countdown. 

10. Cheikhou Koutaye (Senegal and Crystal Palace) - 6.80 

Central to Senegal's efforts in the middle of the park was Cheikhou Kouyate. The Crystal Palace midfielder broke up play effectively for the AFCON champions, averaging 2.3 tackles per 90, though he did receive two yellow cards at the tournament - for context, he is yet to be booked in the Premier League this season - but Kouyate did enough to return a WhoScored rating of 6.80. 

9. Wilfried Zaha (Cote d'Ivoire and Crystal Palace) - 6.85 

Remaining with Crystal Palace, but turning attention to Cote d'Ivoire. The Elephants perhaps should have performed better considering the players at head coach Patrice Beaumelle's disposal, yet Wilfried Zaha did all he could to help his nation to success. He was one of 15 players to win a penalty at AFCON and ranked fourth for dribbles per 90 (2.9) of those to make four or more appearances at the tournament. 

8. Edouard Mendy (Senegal and Chelsea) - 6.86 

Edouard Mendy's AFCON campaign was disrupted owing to COVID-19 complications, but he was solid between the sticks when he returned to action, impressing in his five outings. Mendy conceded just two goals in his five appearances as no goalkeeper kept more clean sheets than the Senegal shotstopper (3) to help earn a WhoScored rating of 6.86. 

7. Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool) - 6.88 

Many perhaps expected more from Mohamed Salah at AFCON, though he was key in wins over Guinea-Bissau and Morocco. The Liverpool forward committed the sixth most fouls (15) at the tournament - for context, he has committed just seven fouls for Liverpool this season - but did manage the fifth most key passes per game (2.3) to return a WhoScored rating of 6.88. 

6. Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria and Leicester) - 6.95 

Of the six goals Nigeria scored before their AFCON exit at the last-16 stage at the hands of Tunisia, Kelechi Iheanacho had a direct hand in two, scoring the only goal of the game in their 1-0 over losing finalists Egypt and providing the assist for Umar Sadiq in Nigeria's 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau. A couple of solid outings from Iheanacho saw him yield an average WhoScored rating of 6.95. 

5. Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso and Aston Villa) - 6.96 

Bertrand Traore may have been restricted to just 150 minutes of Premier League action for Aston Villa this season, but a lack of regular game time for the Villans didn't impact his influence for Burkina Faso at AFCON. Traore may have endured a spell on the sidelines after a positive COVID-19 test, yet still had a direct hand in three of their nine goals, providing two assists, to help land a WhoScored rating of 6.96. 

4. Eric Bailly (Cote d'Ivoire and Manchester United) - 7.07 

Despite a penalty shootout miss against Egypt to compound Cote d'Ivoire to a last-16 exit, Eric Bailly still made the team of the round on account of his excellent display across 120 minutes of game time. The 27-year-old was solid at the back for the Elephants prior to their departure from AFCON, evidenced by his WhoScored rating of 7.07.

3. Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria and Leicester) - 7.23 

Wilfred Ndidi was at his ball-winning best during Nigeria's time in Cameroon as he sought to shield the defence to the best of his ability. Indeed, of those to make more than three AFCON appearances, no player made more tackles per game than the Leicester star (3.8) to contribute towards a WhoScored rating of 7.23. 

2. Sadio Mane (Senegal and Liverpool) - 7.54 

While his AFCON final first half spot kick was saved by Egypt's Mohamed Abou Gabal to negatively impact his overall rating in Cameroon, Sadio Mane was still a key man for the Lions of Teranga. Mane scored the decisive penalty in Sunday's shootout success and overall, won the WhoScored man of the match award in four of his seven appearances, including three times in the knockout stages. Such a fine showing saw him earn a WhoScored rating of 7.54. 

1. Nicolas Pepe (Cote d'Ivoire and Arsenal) - 7.97 

Nicolas Pepe scored as many goals at AFCON as he has for Arsenal this season (2) and is not only the best rated Premier League representative, but earned a better WhoScored rating (7.97) than any other player at the tournament. 3.2 key passes per 90 was the second best in Cameroon to help Pepe to the award.