Top 10 best midfielders in Africa 2025: National villain, the 17-year-old who won the Treble

African football has long been associated with players who possess immense physical strength and athleticism. However, as more young talents join developed football systems, players from the "Black Continent" are changing this perception by combining their natural power with technical elegance. This transformation is most evident in the midfield, where tactical discipline and creativity are now as vital as endurance. 

The ranking provided by Livescorecz below depends largely on the performances of players at AFCON 2025, the most prestigious tournament for African athletes last year. Fans have eagerly waited to see if the talented midfielders from the champions, Senegal, would dominate the top 10 best midfielders in Africa 2025?

Furthermore, club form during the 2024/25 season plays a crucial role in this assessment, with a focus on those who maintained high-level consistency. Any player achieving such stability deserves immense praise. Let us explore the answers to who truly defined African football in 2025.

Ranking the top 10 best midfielders in Africa 2025

10. Gaoussou Diakite (Mali / Lausanne-Sport) 

The 20-year-old Malian prospect, Gaoussou Diakite, occupies the tenth spot after a breakthrough year in Switzerland. Currently playing for Lausanne-Sport on loan from Red Bull Salzburg, Diakite has become a vital cog in their midfield engine. During the 2024/25 season, he made 39 appearances across all competitions, contributing a high volume of successful dribbles and energy. 

He made his senior international debut for Mali in 2025 during the World Cup Qualifiers and was subsequently called up for AFCON 2025. Although he primarily featured as a substitute in 2 matches during the tournament as Mali reached the knockout stages, his technical skills and speed have marked him as a high-potential asset for the "Eagles."

9. Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast / RB Leipzig) 

Yan Diomande has seen a meteoric rise since moving to RB Leipzig from Leganés in the summer of 2025 for a fee of €20 million. At AFCON 2025, Diomande started 5 matches, recording 1 goal and providing a creative spark that led Ivory Coast deep into the tournament. 

For his club in the 2024/25 period, he played a key role at Leganes in La Liga, contributing 2 goals. His ability to maintain a high dribble success rate makes him one of the most exciting young midfielders on this list.

8. Ibrahim Mbaye (Senegal / PSG) 

Representing the champions of AFCON 2025, Ibrahim Mbaye is a name that resonates with the future of Senegal. At just 17 years old, the PSG starlet made his international debut in 2025 and was a surprise inclusion for the AFCON squad. He appeared in 6 matches during the tournament, including a vital performance in the knockout rounds, helping Senegal secure the trophy. 

For PSG, Mbaye has already collected 7 titles, including Ligue 1 and the French Cup. In the 2024/25 season, he featured in 9 league games, scoring 1 and providing 1 assists. 

7. Alex Iwobi (Nigeria / Fulham) 

Now a veteran leader for Nigeria, Iwobi earned his 96th cap during AFCON 2025, breaking records for the most appearances by a Nigerian midfielder. He was the "ammunition" for Nigeria’s attack, providing a tournament-high 46 line-breaking passes. He started all 5 games leading to the semi-finals, recording 2 assists in the opening match against Tanzania. 

For Fulham, Iwobi was ever-present, playing over 1,700 minutes and helping the club maintain a solid mid-table position. His transition from a mercurial winger to a disciplined, deep-lying playmaker has been one of the tactical highlights of the year.

6. Eliesse Ben Seghir (Morocco / Bayer Leverkusen) 

Signed by Bayer Leverkusen from AS Monaco in August 2025, Ben Seghir is the epitome of the "modern African midfielder" who blends French academy discipline with Moroccan flair. He made his debut for Morocco in early 2024 and was a key creative outlet at AFCON 2025. Ben Seghir appeared in 4 matches for the "Atlas Lions" during their historic run to the final, consistently unsettling defenses with his imaginative dribbling. At the club level, he was part of a Monaco side that competed in the Champions League before his high-profile move to Germany.

5. Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco / VfB Stuttgart) 

Another Moroccan gem, Bilal El Khannouss, has been a standout since his move to Stuttgart on loan from Leicester City. With over 32 caps for his country at just 21 years old, El Khannouss was a starter in 6 matches at AFCON 2025. He created 1.5 big chances per game, the highest in the tournament for a player of his age. His vision was a primary reason Morocco ended their 22-year wait for an AFCON final appearance. 

4. Noah Sadiki (DR Congo / Sunderland) 

Noah Sadiki has become the defensive heartbeat of the DR Congo national team since his debut in September 2024. In the 2024/25 season, he helped Union SG win the Belgian Pro League and the Belgian Cup before moving to Sunderland for €17 million.

 At AFCON 2025, Sadiki appeared in 4 matches, showcasing exceptional ball retention and tenacity. His defensive contributions were rated among the top 90th percentile for midfielders in the tournament. For Sunderland, he has been a revelation in the Premier League, appearing in 23 matches and proving that he can handle the physicality of world football's most demanding league.

3. Mamadou Sangaré (Mali / Lens) 

Mamadou Sangaré has emerged as one of the most complete defensive midfielders in Europe. After a successful stint at Rapid Wien, he joined Lens in August 2025. Sangaré made 15 appearances for Mali in the 2025 calendar year, including a dominant showing at AFCON 2025 where he played 5 matches and was praised for his 94% defensive contribution rate. For Rapid Wien in the 2024/25 season, he recorded 2 goals and 3 assists while maintaining a high rating for his tackling and interceptions.

2. Carlos Baleba (Cameroon / Brighton) 

Carlos Baleba has solidified his status as a world-class talent in the Premier League. The Cameroonian powerhouse made his international debut in June 2024 and was the standout performer for the "Indomitable Lions" at AFCON 2025. He was named in the AFCON Best XI of the Group Stage and played every minute of Cameroon’s campaign until their quarter-final exit.

At Brighton, Baleba won the club’s Young Player of the Season award for 2024/25 and scored the Premier League Goal of the Month in April 2025

1. Brahim Diaz (Morocco / Real Madrid) 

Taking the top spot is none other than Brahim Diaz. The Real Madrid forward's decision to represent Morocco in 2024 changed the landscape of African football. At AFCON 2025, Diaz was nothing short of legendary, winning the Golden Boot with 5 goals. He became the first Moroccan to score in four consecutive AFCON games, finding the net against Comoros, Mali, Zambia, and Tanzania. 

His "perfect" hat-trick of sorts, scoring with his left foot, right foot, and thigh, eliminated Cameroon in the quarter-finals. Diaz’s 29% shot conversion rate and his role as the catalyst for Morocco’s final appearance make him the undisputed king of the midfield in 2025. However, Diaz’s tournament remained incomplete after his failed Panenka-style penalty in the final against Senegal. This pivotal moment shattered Morocco's morale, leading them to surrender Africa's most prestigious trophy to the Senegalese side right in front their own home fans.

Top 10 best midfielders in Africa 2025:

Brahim Diaz (Morocco / Real Madrid)

Carlos Baleba (Cameroon / Brighton)

Mamadou Sangaré (Mali / Lens)

Noah Sadiki (DR Congo / Sunderland)

Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco / Stuttgart)

Eliesse Ben Seghir (Morocco / Bayer Leverkusen)

Alex Iwobi (Nigeria / Fulham)

Ibrahim Mbaye (Senegal / PSG)

Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast / RB Leipzig)

Gaoussou Diakite (Mali / Lausanne-Sport)

Livescorecz.net has just ranked the top 10 best midfielders in Africa 2025, reflecting a year of incredible tactical growth and individual brilliance. Do you agree with our selections, or is there a hidden gem we missed?

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