In all of the continent of the world, Guinea's Serhou Guirassy stood out as the best player of all amongst the players that represented their nations during the international break.

 

 

 

 

 

The 28-year-old scored five goals over the two games to help Guinea secure back-to-back wins and get their qualification campaign back on track having lost their first two games.

The Borussia Dortmund striker lines up with ten others in our Best XI of the round three and four combined of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers concluded on Tuesday evening.

With the striker sealing a standby place in the best XI, we look those who join him, from Goitseone Phoko heroics between the sticks to Azzedine Ounahi pulling the strings in the middle of the park in a 4-3-3 set-up. 

Best XI of October AFCON 2025 Qualifiers 

Goalkeeper: Goitseone Phoko of Botswana 

 

 

 

 

 

Ahead of their first-ever meeting with Blue Shark of Cape Verde, Botswana held the bottom of Group C of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers after recording zero wins from their opening two games.

The Zebras were held by Mauritania and walloped by Egypt. They head into this international break knowing it is decisive as only maximum points will keep them on track to reaching Morocco next year.

Fortunately, they were able to do so as a goal in each of the double-header against their opponent proved enough thanks to the heroics of their goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko between the sticks.

The 29-year-old was commanding over the two legs, made a combined eight saves and kept two vital clean sheets. Of all the few goalkeepers not beaten in this break, Phoko is the highest rated. He was also the best rated in both fixture between Botswana and Cape Verde.

Right-back: Issa Kabore of Burkina Faso 

It is a tough call to put the Burkina Faso defender ahead of Achraf Hakimi, who also had an impressive time with Morocco's Atlas Lions. However, looking at the margins between all the four teams involved in the discussion, it is only right to acknowledge Kabore.

The Benfica man assisted two goals in the 4-1 win over Burundi in the first leg and he was the best rated player in the 2-0 away win in the reverse fixture, winning the penalty for the second goal of the game.

Kabore was decisive to help secure the clean sheet in the second leg, winning his duels and taking pressure off his teammates with his movements on and off the ball. Overall, he was a joy to watch.

Centre half: Jamal Harkass of Morocco

Even though Morocco played as a unit, Harkass was one of the main reason it works well defensively and why they kept clean sheets in their two games against Central African Republic, who carried some threat despite being the underdog.

He was spot-on in duels, winning eleven of the 13 contested while he gave away two fouls in the two he lost, ensuring nothing gets past him. In addition to that, the 28-year-old made 13 possession recoveries.

For a player who making his international debut, Harkass left an impression that will make him the man to call on for Walid Regragui, when the Atlas Lions boss is nominating players for future games.

Centre half: Alex Moucketou-Moussounda of Gabon

Aris Limassol defender delivered two impressive showings in defender for The Panthers of Gabon as they prevented Lesotho from scoring in either of their two meetings in October.

Gabon has conceded in each of their two previous meetings with Lesotho and came into the international break with a record of just one clean sheet in eleven games.

Their defensive solidity saw them achieve four points in the two games, putting them on seven points and in pole position to qualify as runner-up behind Morocco in Group B.

Moucketou-Moussounda was unbearable. His passing was spot on while his long passes were outrageous. In the reverse fixture in Durban, he completed all five attempted long passes and finished the game with a 95 percent pass completion.

Over the two legs, the 24-year-old completed all of his tackles, achieved double digits of both interceptions and recoveries. And for a busy defender, he committed no foul in more than 180 minutes of football action. He absolutely bossed it.

Left-Back: Bruno Langa of Mozambique 

Recognized for his attacking contributions, the Almeria defender registered three assists over the two games against Eswatini in the October AFCON 2025 qualifying games.

Langa won a lot of decisive duels and created big chances in both games. He assisted the opener in the 1-1 home draw and assisted the opening two goals in the 3-0 win in the reverse fixture in Nelspruit.

26-year-old Langa was one of the best players overall, while he also completed seven dribbles of the nine attempted over the two legs. A monster of a playmaker to have at left-back. 

Defensive midfielder: Guelor Kanga of Gabon

Red Star Belgrade will probably have better chances of winning their games in the UEFA Champions League if Vladan Milojevic considers giving more chance to the 34-year-old veteran.

Kanga ran the show in midfield for Gabon as they let nothing to chance against Lesotho to keep their hopes of reaching Morocco next year for the 35th edition of Africa's continental showpiece.

He assisted the opener in a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture away from home after helping Theirry Mouyouma side avoid defeat in goalless draw in Franceville.

Kanga was strong in passing, dueling and dribbling. He also made several decisive passes, one of which led to their two goals in October.

Central midfielder: Azzedine Ounahi

 

 

 

 

One of the best performers in October. Probably only surpassed by Guirassy but maybe not by much distance. Ounahi was a beast in the middle of the park for Morocco as they made easy work of Central African Republic over the two legs.

Nine goals scored in the two games combined and none conceded by the Atlas Lions. The Panathinaikos man scored a brace and assisted one in the first meeting while he sat back and ensured no pressure on the team in the reverse fixture.

Completed all of his attempted tribbles and tackles. Won lots of duels and created several scoring chances for his teammates. A complete performance from the 24-year-old.

Attacking midfielder: Walter Musona of Zimbabwe

 

 

 

 

 

Musona featured only in the reverse fixture of the between his country and Namibia and he bagged a brace to help them to a convincing 3-1 win in Johannesburg, which strengths their grip on second place in Group J of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers.

After the first-half ended goalless, Musona opened the scoring five minutes after the restart, and completed his brace from the spot eleven minutes later, after Baggio Nashixwa was penalized for handling a cross from Jordan Zemura on the hour mark.

28-year-old Musona finished the game with two goals, as many as he had in his nine previous caps for The Warriors since his debut in December 2016.

Left winger: Sadio Mané of Senegal

 

 

 

 

Sadio Mané was one of the very few names on the scoresheet in the two rounds of the October AFCON 2025 qualifiers as his late winner in the reverse fixture secured the needed points for the ticket to Morocco next year.

Mané continues his impressive run with the national team and has now scored in five of Senegal's last six games across all competitions, while is also unbeaten in their last 15 games, for games ending in 90 minutes.

The Al Nassr man, 32, extended his own record as the all-time leading goal scorer for the Lions of Teranga with 45 strikes, which also sees him move into the top ten Africans with most international goals.

Striker: Serhou Guirassy of Guinea

 

 

 

 

In the absence of Guirassy, Guinea had lost their two games of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers before the October international break, where they were set to takeon Ethiopia over two legs.

The 28-year-old striker left his mark on the fixtures of October, scoring a hat-trick in round three and a brace in the reverse fixture as the National Elephants earned six points that now places them in second, two ahead of third place Tanzania.

With his five goals, no player has scored more goals than the Borussia Dortmund man in the ongoing qualifiers for places in Morocco next year. Guirassy has now scored eleven goals in seve games in the last 29 days for club and country. World class numbers.

Right winger: Betrand Traore of Burkina Faso

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traore delivered an impressive performance in the first-leg as Burundi was thrashed 4-1 in the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Abidjan, so he was given a deserved rest in the reserved fixture.

The Ajax man was eventually called on by Brama Traore for the final 26 minutes of the game. He added the second goal from the penalty spot in added time as Burkina Faso sealed another win, which secured them the ticket to Morocco 2025.

With one goal and as many assist in the two games, only a few right wing players can match the goal involvements, but none can boast the consistency, considering the amount of minutes played.