The dream team
Some have said that this has been a poor tournament, with few truly exceptional players. They are wrong. Although there have been better Nations Cups, and ones showcasing greater stars, it is not hard to pick out a selection of players who would give many a Premiership side a real going over.
I have chosen to stick with the formation employed by most of the sides in Tunisia: a good old fashioned 4-4-2. If all the players come from the eight teams who made the quarterfinals, that is because in general there was a large gap between those who qualified for the second week, and the sides who went home after 10 days. Zimbabwe's Peter Ndlovu, Egypt's Tarek Said and Ali Ibrahim, Burkina Faso's Abdoulaye Soulama, and Rwanda's Olivier Karekezi all merited consideration, but - like their respective teams - didn't quite do enough. Likewise many will be surprised at the exclusion of all the Cameroonians; but Geremi flattered to deceive, Samuel Eto'o didn't score the goals his performances merited, and Patrick Mboma faded dramatically after four goals in his opening two games. Senegal's Pape Malick Diop and Salif Diao came close, too, the only bright lights in the Lions' disastrous campaign, but in the final analysis this side is made up of players whose sides made it to the semi-finals.
Goalkeeper Khaled Fouhami (Morocco). Going into the final Morocco had conceded only twice in five games, and Fouhami had a major part to play in that. For years he was kept out of the national team by the inconsistent Driss Benzerki, but it is difficult to see why: Fouhami is a good shot-stopper, as he proved right from the Atlas Lions' opening game win against Nigeria, and is solid coming off his line. A worthy successor to the great Badou Zaki, now Morocco coach.
Right back Karim Hagui (Tunisia). So good he has made everyone forget about Hatem Trabelsi's absence. When Ajax star Trabelsi has been fit to play, Hagui has shifted seamlessly into midfield, or, as in the semi-final extra time, over to left back. Solid defensively and a menace going forward, Hagui has leapt in the space of three weeks from a man scarcely known within his own country to a player scouts from all over Europe should be looking at.
Centre back Joseph Yobo (Nigeria). The Everton defender has also been the tournament's best. Strong but not dirty in the tackle, commanding in the air, a good reader of the game and composed enough to lay the foundations of Nigeria's play from the back, Yobo has been exceptional. His only moments of difficulty came against the lively Tunisia strikers Dos Santos and Jaziri in the semi-final. Even then, his great pace got him out of trouble.
Centre back Abdesalam Ouaddou (Morocco) This place could easily have been filled by fellow Atlas Lion Nourredine Naybet, or by Tunisia's colossal captain Khaled Badra. But Ouaddou, who is fresher than both those great veterans, has been sensational at the heart of the competition's best rearguard. Naybet may be the voice, but Ouaddou is undoubtedly the legs of the defence. "He's been a rock," says team mate Youssef Hadji, "and he would definitely be in my team of the tournament." Ours too.
Left back Anis Ayari (Tunisia) Like his counterpart on the right, Hagui, Ayari has been a revelation. Unafraid to get forward, Ayari has also been very solid defensively. He completely nullified Senegal's Henri Camara in the quarterfinal, one of the major reasons Tunisia were able to beat the Lions. It will surely not be long before the Stade Tunisien youngster crosses the Mediterranean to a big European club.
Right midfield John Utaka (Nigeria). Oualid Regragui of Morocco had a good claim for this spot, but Utaka's goals give him the edge. Quick and skilful, as his winner against Cameroon amply demonstrated, Utaka was able to rescue his tournament from a shaky start against Morocco. In that loss the Lens winger floated alarmingly, but having been put to rights he stuck on the right and tracked back with the best of them. Going forward he provided more of a goal threat than Nigeria's strikers.
Central Midfield Mehdi Nafti (Tunisia). The Racing Santander midfielder is not a headline grabber, not even in his own international midfield, where Slim Ben Achour's extravagant technique and Riadh Bouazizi's luxuriant mullet are more readily identifiable. But Nafti kept the host's play ticking over nicely, winning the ball and then spreading the play simply and efficiently.
Central midfielder Mahamadou Diarra (Mali). Diarra has confirmed the hopes placed in him after he was voted best young player in the 2002 Nations Cup finals. The Mali captain wore responsibility well, and his driving, competitive midfield play was instrumental in the Eagles getting to the semi-finals. A hot property in European football too - he shines for French champions Lyon both domestically and in the Champions League.
Left midfielder Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria). He played through the middle for Nigeria, but Okocha would have little problems if shifted out to the left. Perhaps less spectacular than he frequently is for Bolton, but arguably even more effective. It is not just the goals - two penalties and a wickedly curling free kick - but the fact that it is difficult to remember him wasting a pass. With opposing defences drawn up to stop him, Okocha always managed to create space, and then found one of his team mates. A joy to watch.
Striker Frédéric Kanouté (Mali). He failed to score in Mali's most important game, the semi-final, but Kanouté hit the target in every other Eagles game he played. Without doubt the most efficient poacher in the tournament, Kanouté also made a goal for colleague Soumaila Coulibaly with a lovely flick, and created danger with every twist and turn. The striker Mali have been crying out for for so long, Kanouté fully justified his controversial but heartfelt decision to switch sporting nationalities and leave employers Tottenham in temporary lurch.
Striker Youssef Hadji (Morocco) Not usually a striker, and not even a guaranteed starter for Morocco, Hadji is in the team because almost every time he plays he scores. Three goals on the way to the final is a fine haul for a super-sub, and his semi-final effort showed all his talent. Bursting onto Marouane Chamakh's cross, Hadji had the skill to roll a delicate shot into the net in the fraction of a second before keeper Mahamadou Sidibé arrived. Big brother Mustapha would have been jealous of that.
Coach Badou Zaki (Morocco) Irrespective of the result of the final, Zaki gets the vote. He was almost sacked after the Atlas Lions lost a friendly at home to Mali in November, but the former goalkeeper took a largely young side to the final hurdle. His Morocco side was undoubtedly the tournament's most organised, quick to retreat into defensive positions when it lost the ball, and creative up front.