AFCON 2025 power rankings: Nigeria’s stars shine as Lookman finishes group stage above Mo Salah

The group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) in Morocco has ended with a familiar pattern emerging at the top of the individual performance charts: Nigeria’s finest are setting the pace, Soccernet.ng reports.

According to ratings compiled by respected data platform WhoScored, three Super Eagles players rank among the tournament’s top ten performers after the opening three matches.

They are Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Wilfred Ndidi, with the trio joining Egypt’s talisman Mohamed Salah on a list dominated by elite attacking and midfield talent.

It is a statistical reflection of Nigeria’s dominance in the group phase, where the Super Eagles, alongside Algeria, were the only teams to record a perfect 100 per cent win rate.

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AFCON 2025: Ademola Lookman leads the continent

At the summit of the rankings sits Ademola Lookman, who has been the outstanding individual of AFCON 2025 so far. The Atalanta forward boasts a competition-high rating of 8.36, boosted by four direct goal involvements, more than any other player in the group stage.

Lookman struck a goal and provided an assist in Nigeria’s opening 2-1 win over Tanzania before repeating the feat in a thrilling 3-2 victory against Tunisia on matchday two. With qualification already secured, the 28-year-old was rested for the final group fixture against Uganda.

Beyond the numbers, Lookman has been devastating in transition: drifting intelligently between the lines, attacking full-backs one-on-one and providing the decisive edge Nigeria lacked during the World Cup qualifiers.

Chukwueze, Ndidi and elite company

Second on the list is Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez (8.02), whose three goals in just 139 minutes powered the Desert Foxes through the group stage unbeaten.

But it is Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze who claims third spot with a rating of 7.92, despite featuring in only two matches.

Chukwueze’s finest display came against Uganda, where he delivered two incisive assists in a 3-1 win, stretching the opposition with his direct running and creating space for Nigeria’s midfield runners to exploit.

In sixth place is Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi (7.72), whose influence has gone far beyond ball-winning. Ndidi capped a commanding midfield performance with his first-ever international goal against Tunisia.

Mohamed Salah sits fourth overall on 7.85, scoring decisive winners against Zimbabwe and South Africa before Egypt faltered in their final group game with the Liverpool star rested. Completing the top five is Algeria’s 20-year-old rising star Ibrahim Maza (7.84).

Elsewhere, Senegal’s Nicolas Jackson, Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, Sadio Mané, and South Africa’s Lyle Foster round out the top ten.

Other Nigerians on the list include Victor Osimhen in 26th (7.32) and Alex Iwobi in 66th (6.96).

With Nigeria set to face Mozambique in the Round of 16, several Super Eagles will have the chance to climb even higher.