A recap of the African Cup of Nations’ first round reveals compelling results and the FPL Manual is here to share insights on standout performances from Matchday 1 along with notable AFCON Fantasy differential picks for Matchday 2.

With 10 out of 12 games completed in Matchday 1, football fans worldwide witnessed surprising upsets such as Namibia triumphing over Tunisia and Cape Verde stunning Ghana. The so-called “small teams” are posing significant challenges for the tournament favorites. Notably, Nigeria, Egypt, and Algeria had to settle for draws in their opening games.

AFCON MATCHDAY 1 TOP PERFORMERS

1. Seko Fofana: Scored the tournament’s opening goal, providing a strong start for the home nation.
2. Lamine Camara: The young player secured two goals for the Teranga Lions in their first game.
3. Djigui Diarra: Made six crucial saves for Mali in their pivotal 2-0 victory against South Africa.
4. Mohamed Salah: Contributed a late penalty equalizer and an assist for the Pharaohs, accumulating a total of 12 points.
5. Hamari Traore: Mali’s captain scored a goal and secured a clean sheet, delivering a solid performance for the Eagles.
6. Youcef Belaili: Despite playing only 67 minutes, Belaili provided 1 assist, earned 1 clean sheet point, delivered 2 key passes, and won 7 duels for Algeria.
7. Georges-Kévin N’Koudou: Notched 1 assist, 7 key passes, and won 8 duels, playing a crucial role in helping Cameroon secure a draw against Guinea.
8. Alexander Djiku: Despite receiving a yellow card and conceding 2 goals to Cape Verde, the Ghanaian defender scored a goal, made 10 CBIs, finishing with 8 points.

I got a question from Twitter user Jonsku @turboveeti and he wants to know who is the best Afcon Fantasy asset to consider within the 5m-7m range for strikers and midfielders

AFCON FANTASY TOP DIFFERENTIALS FOR MATCHDAY 2

Kamory Doumbia

• Price: 6m
• Ownership: 5%
• Position: MID

Afcon Fantasy managers who made an early move to include Kamory Doumbia reaped the first fruits with 9 points. The Mali attacking midfielder showcased an impressive performance in the last match against South Africa, leading in key passes and duels won, creating an assist, and earning a clean sheet point. Following a crucial win and gearing up to face Group E rivals Tunisia, I anticipate Kamory Doumbia to deliver a similarly high score in the upcoming game ⚽🔥

Peter Shalulile

• Price: 5m
• Ownership: 2%
• Position: FWD

Despite being unable to find the net in the last game for the Brave Warriors, Peter Shalulile showcased his attacking prowess with six shots in total, three of which were on target. He also won four duels, highlighting his contribution to the team. The Namibian forward played a crucial role in assisting his team in securing their first-ever AFCON win in the contest’s history. Set to face South Africa in Group E, Peter Shalulile is confident and eager to capitalize on his opportunities as he takes on Bafana Bafana.

José Machín

• Price: 5m
• Ownership: <1% ownership
• Position: MID

With two key passes, an assist, and a total of 6 points for Equatorial Guinea, Jose Machin has emerged as a player to watch. The Nzalang Nacional winger displayed directness and impactful play for his nation.

Reasonably priced at 5m and prepared to face Group A rivals Guinea-Bissau in the next game, I predict that Jose Machin could play a significant role in the goal-scoring action in the early kick-off on Thursday.

Honourable mentions

Key Fantasy Assets like Seko Fofana, Youcef Belaili, Alexander Djiku, and Georges-Kevin N’koudou who are listed among the top performers above can also be considered as top picks.

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You can find additional AFCON 2024 Fantasy resources here.