Choosing a team of the tournament is always likely to provoke debate. This Cup of Nations is no different with some surprising choices in African Sport's eyes for the all star team. As a result we would like to present an alternative team of tournament stars.

The official team has Tony Sylva in goal. The Senegalese keeper was indeed in good form and made some excellent stops in the final. He only conceded one goal throughout the entire championship, but that record was bettered by Cameroon's Boukar Alioum. Cameroon coach Schafer was rightly amazed his man didn't get the all star vote. He certainly gets ours.

The official team has a back-four of South Africa's Zuma, Taribo West and Ifeanyi Udeze from Nigeria and Rigobert Song of Cameroon. This is perhaps a little cautious. With many teams playing with only one out and out striker it should be possible to play with only three at the back. Taribo West was one of the few Nigerians to emerge with his reputation intact. He is one of our markers along with the inspirational Cameroonian captain Rigobert Song. The third member of the defence is Hany Ramzy who had another excellent tournament, although this time as a midfield screen.

Seydou Keita

In fact Ramzy makes the official team as a defensive midfielder with Mali's Seydou Keita on the right and Egypt's Said on the left. Our team puts the accent on creation with security from numbers in the middle.

First of all we'll play with wing-backs to help give width. Ferdinand Coly
of Senegal would get up and down the park all day. Immensely strong, he also has good ball skills. It was tempting too use Udeze in this role on the left, but instead the experienced Pierre Wome of Cameroon is our man. Wome has been frightening attackers for years now, but he also loves to attack.

Inside our wing-backs are the Mali pairing of Toure and Seydou Keita. They were at the heart of the neat attacks that Mali built in the early stages before running up against the Cameroonian brick wall. Alongside them is Salomon Olembe of Cameroon. With three goals from midfield he finished as joint top scorer and is the ideal man to support the front two.

Patrick Mboma

Patrick Mboma is a shoe-in for both African Sport and the official team. The only difference is that the official team has the Cameroonian hit man playing behind Julius Aghahowa of Nigeria and El Haji Diouf of Senegal. Aghahowa we agree with, except we play him alongside Mboma. This means there is no room for the Senegalese favourite. Diouf shows good close control and can make chances out of nothing. His first half display in the final was sparkling and was what everyone had expected all along. In the second half he resorted to tournament type - sulky and complaining gestures. It was no surprise that he missed in the penalty shoot-out.

So that's our team. No doubt you have your own views on some of our
selections but we think we have an awesome selection that will entertain and win, and that is the name of the game.