With African club football's premier club competition now reaching its knockout stages, here is a starting XI of the highest valued stars, per position, in this season's CAF Champions League.
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Leading the line in this fantasy team is Namibia captain and Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile. Admittedly, the 30-year-old has not hit the heights many would have expected from him so far in this campaign, but the Eengolo-born hitman is still highly regarded on the continent and among opposition defences. Despite only scoring two goals in this season's edition of the competition to date, Shalulile is the highest valued striker in Africa at €2.2 million (R44.6 million), as per Transfermarkt.
Flanked by him are wingers hailing from the northern region of Africa, Ramadan Sobhi on the left and Reda Slim of Al Ahly on the right-hand side. In the case of Egyptian Sobhi, this campaign was his team Pyramids' first excursion into Africa's premier club tournament. The former Stoke City attacker was unable to add to his 30 goals and 21 assists for his side in the Champions League, though, and consequently, Pyramids did not progress to the quarter-finals, only winning one match during the group stage. His value is, however, still high as he is said to be worth €3 million (R60.9 million).
Like Pyramids, Ahly's newest winger Slim is also a debutant in the tournament. The Moroccan switched FAR Rabat for the Club of the Century this past off-season as he looks to continue his ascendance in his career.
*Please note all valuations are as per Transfermarkt
On his way to helping Rabat become Botola Pro league champions last campaign, the 24-year-old scored 13 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions, but so far this season, the young attacker has failed to replicate that form with the Red Devils as his campaign has been blighted by injuries. Slim has only played three games in the competition, but his value remains high at €2.2 million.
This XI's midfield has a large Sundowns presence, with South Americans Marcelo Allende and Matias Esquivel both present in it, and being valued at €2.3 million (R46.7 million) and €2.2 million, respectively. Also in it is the only west African player in the entire team, Aliou Dieng, and he is also the highest valued member in the entire side with a value of €4.5 million (R91.4 million).
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Dieng has been an ever-present in the Ahly set-up since arriving in 2019, helping the record African champions extend their Champions League title haul to 11, winning three of his own with the team. Like the aforementioned Ahly player, the 26-year-old's season has also been hampered by being on the sidelines. He has only played three group-stage matches for the team so far in this campaign as a knee injury he sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations has kept him out of action.
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