Africa's showpiece tournament is right around the corner and in preparation, we have compiled a combined best XI and a bench that could definitely give the world's best a run for their money.
The central midfield and attacking areas are particularly strong with Thomas Partey settling for a substitute's role. With Joel Matip not in the fold for Cameroon, who takes his place in the heart of the defence? Here goes! We've selected a 4-2-3-1 and a talented bench of seven substitutes.
Bear in mind that we have selected players that have featured prominently for their club's first team wherever possible.
Who makes your team and who gets axed?
GK: Andre Onana (Cameroon)
The Cameroonian stopper came through the Barcelona ranks but was allowed to slip through the cracks.
The 23-year-old has been outstanding for Ajax this season and made outstanding saves in their memorable semifinal clash in the Champions League against Tottenham.
There might well be a high-cost auction for his signature come the transfer window.
RB: Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast)
The Tottenham full back was a part of the team that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.
He left Paris Saint-Germain for Spurs two years later in 2017, but isn't exactly a fan favourite in north London and played just 17 times all season in 2018/19.
However, he is still a top-level, experienced right back in the prime of his career at 26.
CB: Mehdi Benatia (Morocco)
Benatia has had a somewhat nomadic career but with clubs like Roma, Bayern Munich and Juventus under his belt, he's one of the most experienced centre halves at the tournament.
Alongside Hakimi and Wolves star Romain Saiss, Morocco have the pick of the tournament's defences.
CB: Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal)
K2, his nickname because of his imposing height, has attracted interest from clubs around Europe for the past few seasons.
Napoli's second-place finish in Serie A this season has been in part down to Koulibaly's excellence and consistency.
He's made 34 starts in 36 league outings and has become composed on the ball, an area that he has developed in the last few years, to supplement his aerial dominance and aggression. The complete package defender.
RB: Achraf Hakimi (Morroco)
On-loan from Real Madrid, the 20-year-old Moroccan is highly regarded around Europe for his versatility and it's not hard to see why.
He's got two goals and seven assists this season for the German side in all competitions this season, from an unfamiliar left-back role.
His natural right back position is where he slots in here, and watch out for him next season where he will be staking a claim for Dani Carvajal's right back spot at Real.
CM: Thomas Partey (Ghana)
26-year-old Partey is the quintessential Diego Simeone player, tough and relentlessly hard-working.
A defensive midfielder with Atletico Madrid, he often plays a more advanced role for his country and has seven goals in 17 appearances, since his debut in 2016.
CM: Naby Keita (Guinea)
Keita's big money move to Liverpool hasn't exactly worked out as many expected just yet.
However, he had begun to show glimpses of his best form before injury ruled him out of the Reds' run-in.
A dynamic all-action engine-room star, Keita made the Bundesliga Team of the Season in 2017 and the CAF Team of the Year in 2018.
CM: Hakim Ziyech (Morocco)
Moroccan star Ziyech stunned the world with his tally of 19 goals & 15 assists across all competitions this season, and he was the driving creative force behind Ajax's amazing season.
It's unlikely that he will be at the Dutch club next season, with offers for his services streaming in from all quarters.
But no one will ever forget his silky combinations with fellow left-footer Dusan Tadic and that improvised strike against Spurs after another typically flowing Ajax team move. One wonders where Ziyech will be playing his club football next season.
CF: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Last season's Premier League player of the year had a slow start to 2018/2019 but he ended up as a joint-winner of the Golden Boot with 22 goals, sharing the award with two other African stars also in this team.
Salah scored memorably against Chelsea in the Premier League and is a popular figure in the dressing room at Anfield. Mo Salah is now a Champions League winner with Liverpool and he netted in the opening stages of the final.
RW: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
The 2016 PFA Player of the Year hasn't hit the heights of three years ago when he spearheaded Leicester's fairytale charge to the Premier League crown, but he remains a highly dependable operator and a man often selected by Pep Guardiola in big games for Manchester City.
We've selected him here on the left, despite his preferred position being off the right flank to cut in with that wand of a left foot. Mahrez should be fit and raring to go and that's bad news for Algeria's opponents in Group C namely Kenya, Senegal & Tanzania. It looks like a group of death.
LW: Sadio Mane (Senegal)
Arguably Liverpool's most important attacker this season, Senegalese star Mane has knitted it all together in 2018/2019 and become the complete package.
Often a lack of consistency would be one criticism levelled at the wide man, but his 22 goals this season have earned him the Golden Boot in England and the respect of many defenders. He's also now another African Champions League winner and there's no wonder Real Madrid is rumoured to have registered an interest in the scintillating Senegalese star.
Combined XI
Substitutes bench
Dennis Onyango (Uganda)
Kwadwo Asamoah (Ghana)
Victor Wanyama (Kenya)
Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast)
Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)
Nicolas Pépé (Ivory Coast)
Mbwana Samatta (Tanzania)
What do you think of the team, AF managers?