Goalkeeper: Mouez Hassen (Tunisia) - 7.99 rating
Tunisia sprung something of an upset in their progression to the next round of AFCON 2019 as they dumped heavyweights Ghana out of the competition on penalties at the last-16 stage. Mouez Hassen may not have played any part of the shootout, with head coach Alain Giresse following in the footsteps of Louis van Gaal at the 2014 World Cup in withdrawing the 24-year-old in the dying embers of extra time, but the young shotstopper was imperious between the sticks as he made six saves and one successful high claim to ensure the game went to penalties as he returned a WhoScored rating of 7.99.
Right-back: Youcef Atal (Algeria) - 8.87 rating
Algeria breezed into the next round of the tournament as they secured a 3-0 win over Guinea on Sunday night and the Desert Foxes dominate this XI with four players. Player of the round Youcef Atal is the first Algeria representative to make the grade after his man of the match display at the weekend with his WhoScored rating (8.87) better than any other player in the round of 16. Atal provided an assist in the win, that coming from his sole key pass, while six clearances, three tackles, three interceptions and three successful dribbles capped a fine performance.
Centre-back: Pascal Razakanantenaina (Madagascar) - 8.53 rating
Pascal Razakanantenaina put in his best rated performance at AFCON 2019 to date as he gained a WhoScored rating of 8.53 from Madagascar’s penalty shootout win over DR Congo. The 32-year-old was solid in the air as he won eight aerial duels across 120 minutes, while six clearances, six tackles and three interceptions are notable returns as Razakanantenaina’s performance earned him his place in the best XI of the round.
Centre-back: Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo) - 8.52 rating
Partnering Razakanantenaina at the heart of the defence is DR Congo’s Chancel Mbemba. DR Congo may have crashed out of the competition, but the FC Porto centre-back’s late goal saw the match go to extra time as he gave his side a chance of progression. His goal came from one of four shots in the meeting with Madagascar, while five aerial duels won, seven clearances, four interceptions and three tackles yielded a WhoScored rating of 8.52.
Left-back: Ngonda Muzinga (DR Congo) - 7.83 rating
Mbemba isn’t the only DR Congo representative to make the grade in our best rated XI from the last-16 of AFCON 2019 with Ngonda Muzinga rounding off the defence. The left-back provided the assist for Cedric Bakambu’s goal after 21 minutes in the meeting with Madagascar, with that coming from one of three key passes in the match. He pressed forward well as he completed three dribbles across 120 minutes to contribute towards a WhoScored rating of 7.83.
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Right midfield: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) - 8.17 rating
Rihad Mahrez netted early in the second half of Algeria’s 3-0 win over Guinea too all but confirm their place in the next round of AFCON 2019. One of the tournament favourites, Mahrez geared up for their daunting meeting with Ivory Coast with a solid showing for Algeria as he landed a WhoScored rating of 8.17 in the victory. The Manchester City star’s goal was from one of two shots, while two successful dribbles, two interceptions and one tackle capped a solid outing.
Central midfield: Ismael Bennacer (Algeria) - 8.15 rating
Ismael Bennacer provided the assist for Mahrez’s aforementioned goal against Guinea, that coming from his only key pass in the 3-0 victory. On the ball, the in-demand central midfielder was hugely impressive as he completed seven dribbles in the comprehensive win and found a teammate with relative ease, returning a 86.4% pass success rate, with those notable returns contributing to a WhoScored rating of 8.15.
Central midfield: Mubarak Wakaso (Ghana) - 7.93 rating
Like DR Congo before them, Ghana crashed out of the competition at the last-16 stage on penalties, but the performance of Mubarak Wakaso gave them a fighting chance of securing their quarter-final spot. The 28-year-old put in a battling performance in the middle of the park as he made two tackles. Wakaso got forward well too as he completed two dribbles and made four key passes and by netting his penalty in the shootout loss, he returned a WhoScored rating of 7.93 against Tunisia to make the cut.
Left midfield: Youcef Belaïli (Algeria) - 8.04 rating
Rounding off the Algeria contingent is winger Youcef Belaïli, who gained a WhoScored rating of 8.04 against Guinea. The 27-year-old bagged his second AFCON 2019 goal to set Algeria on their way to victory on Sunday, hitting the back of the net with his only shot at the weekend. Three dribbles, two key passes and one tackle helped him earn his spot in this XI.
Striker: Taha Khenissi (Tunisia) - 8.06 rating
The second Tunisia player to feature in the best XI of the last-16, Taha Khenissi netted late on to put the Eagles of Carthage ahead with 15 minutes of normal time to go and he must’ve thought he’d bagged the winner, only for Rami Bedoui, the player who replaced Khenissi in injury time, to score an own goal. No less, the 27-year-old netted his first goal of the tournament in Monday’s shootout win, that coming from one of seven shots, and was an effective performer off the ball as he made two tackles to yield a WhoScored rating of 8.06.
Striker: Odion Ighalo (Nigeria) - 8.69 rating
In arguably the best game of the tournament so far, Nigeria secured their place in the quarter-final stage with a 3-2 win over holders Cameroon on Saturday. Odion Ighalo was in rampant form in the victory as he had a direct hand in all three of Nigeria’s goals, scoring two and assisting one, those coming from respective returns of four shots and two key passes. Ighalo helped disrupt Cameroon’s flow too as he made five fouls and drew one himself that saw him earn a WhoScored rating of 8.69.
