Former Moroka Swallows striker and South African Premiership's top goalscorer for the 2005-2006 season, Mame Niang has argued that Senegal were the best team at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, despite Nigeria's attacking brilliance.

The Teranga Lions lifted the title in dramatic fashion, edging past hosts Morocco 1-0 thanks to Pape Gueye's decisive goal in the first half of extra time.

The Super Eagls finished as the tournament's top-scoring team, netting 14 goals across seven matches, with influential forwards Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen directly involved in 13 of those goals.

Senegal boasted the joint-best defensive record at the tournament, conceding just two goals, a feat they shared with the Atlas Lions. 

The 2025 Afcon champions were also the only side to score in all seven of their matches, with Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye emerging as their top scorer with three goals.

Niang emphasised Senegal’s defensive solidity as a decisive factor, noting that their organisation at the back made them exceptionally difficult to break down throughout the competition.

When asked whether Senegal deserved to win the Afcon, Mame Niang said on SuperSport's Soccer Africa: "We played the best football. Nigeria had the best attack, we were the second best attack, we had the best defence in Morocco," 

"So if Nigeria is out, we should be the best team in the tournament. People can say whatever they want, there have been a lot of things going on in the build-up to the final."

The Super Eagles, who secured the bronze medal in Morocco, have won eight third-place matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, a record unmatched by any nation in the competition's history.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel