AFCON Fantasy Top Picks for Gameweek 2

The second round of AFCON is just around the corner so in this article we take a look at the AFCON Fantasy Top Picks for Gameweek 2. Using stats and form we reel off the best goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards with the most potential.

Finding out who the AFCON Fantasy top picks for Gameweek 2 are is crucial for managers. Knowing which players to invest in could help with decisions towards transfers, captaincy and chip strategy and so could be vital for rank and mini-league positioning.

Goalkeepers – Jesús Owono

As we have already seen in their match against Nigeria, Equatorial are no pushovers. In terms of their defence, ahead of the tournament they collected an impressive six clean sheets. They come up against a Guinea-Bissau that sit 103rd on the FIFA ranking system. With that in mind Jesús Owono (€4.5m) could have the potential to keep a clean sheet this week.

Bono (€5.5m

Morocco remain the favourites for this years AFCON and that’s no surprise after their recent heroic World Cup campaign. When it comes to defence Morocco have picked up clean sheets in half of their last 10 games. It’s also worth highlighting that their upcoming opposition, DR Congo, have failed to score in two of their last four games. Because of that Bono (€5.5m) eases into the AFCON Fantasy top picks for Gameweek 2.

Ronwen Williams

South Africa have a very difficult group to navigate with the likes of Tunisia and Mali. However, the other team they are competing against is Namibia, who they play this week. Namibia are one of the lowest FIFA ranked sides in the entire tournament (115th) but they have also failed to score in four of their last five games which is extremely poor. South Africa on the other hand have collected five clean sheets in their last 10 matches. Helping them to do that was Ronwen Williams (€4.5m) who not only comes in cheap but is highly regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Africa.

Defenders – Emilio Nsue

We have already covered the fact Equatorial Guinea will not be pushovers this year. We saw that against Nigeria as they drew 1-1. Leading the frontline was Emilio Nsue (€4.5m). Yes you guessed it, Nsue is a defender playing up front for his country which is something nobody can overlook. Nsue was also his countries leading goal scorer coming into the competition. With the above in mind Nsue could have massive potential this week against a poor Guinea-Bissau.

Ismail Jakobs

Senegal may have a seismic clash against Cameroon next but the latter have lost two key attacking players in Bryan Mbeumo and Vincent Aboubakar due to injury. Senegal also bagged four consecutive clean sheets prior to AFCON as well so we don’t have to rely solely on Cameroon misfiring. One of the standout options at the back is Ismail Jakobs (€5m). Jakobs takes his sides corners and spends more time attacking the oppositions half than defending his own. He’s also banked both a goal and an assist already for club this season.

Rayan Aït Nouri

Algeria are another side that have an interesting matchup this week. They also face a team in Burkina Faso side who are hampered with key attacking injuries. This of course could change when we see the line-ups but Algeria also managed three consecutive clean sheets prior to AFCON. One of the cheapest ways into the Algeria defence, if not the cheapest, is Rayan Aït Nouri (€4.5m). Nouri scored for Wolves in pre-season and regularly maintains very good underlying attacking data in the Premier League. He also produced two key passes in his opening match.

Achraf Hakimi

Morocco have a great opportunity against DR Congo next up, a team that had won just one of their last five matches. Achraf Hakimi (€6.5m) is expensive for a reason. This season for PSG he has racked up seven goals and assists combined in just 14 matches. Hakimi also maintained a key pass rate of 2.2 per game in the AFCON qualifiers and takes some of his sides set pieces which gives him assist potential.

Nayef Aguerd

The strength of the Morocco defence could warrant a double up at the back. Another example of their solidarity is the fact they kept more clean sheets than any other side in the 2022 World Cup. Another great pick at the back is Nayef Aguerd (€5m). The West Ham centre-back has also shown attacking threat this season – scoring two goals and creating two assists.

Midfielders – Franck Kessié

Ivory Coast coasted to a win in Gameweek 1 and that is no surprise being the home nation. Nigeria lay ahead next and although menacing offensively they are also very vulnerable at the back. This could give Franck Kessié the chance (€7.5m) to add to the seven-point return he picked up in the first round. The points system works in favour of Kessie when it comes to duels and key passes and he also has the potential to take penalties. Kessie is the complete package when it comes to this points structure so is a great addition to the AFCON top picks for Gameweek 2.

Mohamed Salah

Egypt were fantastic in Gameweek 1 offensively but ended up dropping points to a stubborn Mozambique side. They have a game against Ghana next and will be hoping to get their first three points of the competition. Mohamed Salah (€12m) is an essential going into any given. The Liverpool attacker is in a serious run of form and we saw that from his goal and assist in the first match. Some could even consider Salah as the best captaincy option for the round ahead.

Sadio Mane

The tournament favourites started their new campaign strongly after a 3-0 victory against Gambia. It may come as no surprise that talisman Sadio Mane (€11.5m) was involved as he set up the first goal. Although many expected more from Mane in the first round he has a great chance to make up for it against a shaky looking Cameroon backline next up. Penalty duty is another massive bonus with Mane too.

Musa Barrow

There are several players in the game that are made for the AFCON Fantasy points system and Musa Barrow (€7.5m) is one of them. His side lost 3-0 and he blanked so why would we want to invest in him? Well, Barrow’ version of a blank in the last round was five points with the help of four key passes, six duels won and one big chance created. Barrow was excellent in the last AFCON in that respect. The Gambia talisman, set piece taker and sometimes penalty taker faces Guinea this week, a side who conceded 70% possession and 13 attempts on goal in their previous match.

Riyad Mahrez

Algeria are another side who flopped to a draw in the first round. They could have it tough again this week as they come up against Burkina Faso. However, their opposition have still conceded in four of their last five matches so there is potential there. Prior to the tournament Algeria were averaging three goals scored per game and helping them maintain that was Riyad Mahrez (€11m). Although disappointing in round one the Algeria captain and penalty taker is the safest route into the frontline in terms of minutes. We also have to remember that he bagged three attacking returns in the qualifiers and scored in a recent friendly.

Forwards – Victor Osimhen

Creating clear cut chances against an Equatorial Guinea side who kept six clean sheets in their last 10 matches was always going to be difficult for any side but Nigeria did it. In fact Nigeria hit 19 goal shots on goal in the first round and Victor Osmihen (€11.5m) could have gone big. Now although Osimhen missed two big chances he also scored. It may be a matter of time before the Nigeria penalty taker explodes in terms of fantasy points and that could come against an Ivory Coast side prone to quick counter attacks.

Mostafa Mohamed

Mohamed Salah may have been influential for Egypt in their 2-2 draw with Mozambique but most of the threat came from this man. Mostafa Mohamed (€7m) bagged a huge 12 points in the first game due to a goal, an assist, two shots on target, six duels won and two key passes, he did everything right. Mostata Mohamed has been growing into the Egyptian side for some years now and although originally a player who would have his minutes managed, that may have changed.

Patson Daka

Zambia are firm favourites against the 121st FIFA ranked Tanzania this week and the focal point to the efficient frontline is Patson Daka (€7m). Daka was excellent in the AFCON qualifiers – scoring five goals in just six matches. He is also in great recent form as well. In fact, Daka has collected five goals and two assists in his last seven matches for club and country. He may have picked up just an assist in Gameweek 1 but he is still a very easy addition to the AFCON Fantasy top picks for Gameweek 2.