🏆 CAF Champions League – Team of the Week (Round 6)

Formation: 4-4-2

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Intro

The final round of the group stage in the CAF Champions League is never just another matchday. It is where pressure peaks, margins shrink, and individual performances carry heavier weight than ever before. Qualification, elimination, pride, and momentum all collide in 90 minutes.

Round 6 delivered exactly that.

Some teams needed victory to survive. Others played for dominance and rhythm heading into the knockout rounds. A few were fighting to restore pride after inconsistent campaigns. But across the continent, one thing was clear: decisive individuals stepped forward when their teams needed them most.

This Team of the Week is not about reputation. It is not about star power. It is about impact — measurable, visible, and decisive impact in the final group match.

And when assembling this best XI, one tactical structure stood out naturally.

Not a fashionable back three.

Not a possession-heavy 4-3-3.

Not a fluid 4-2-3-1.

But a balanced, structured, and ruthlessly efficient 4-4-2.

Team Of The Week for Round 6, the TotalFootball Live pick.

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Why 4-4-2 Formation for This Last Round Group Matches?

The final group-stage match is different from earlier rounds. It is not experimental. It is not cautious. It is decisive. Teams either protect leads, chase qualification, or impose authority.

The individual performances in Round 6 reflected this clarity of purpose. The standout players fit perfectly into a traditional 4-4-2 for several reasons.

1️⃣ Structural Balance Under Pressure

The best defensive performances came from players operating in clear defensive roles:

• Natural full-backs defending wide channels.

• Central defenders winning aerial duels and organizing lines.

• No hybrid centre-backs drifting into midfield.

A flat back four best represents how these defenders influenced their matches — disciplined, compact, and positionally aware.

In a high-stakes final round, defensive structure matters more than tactical innovation. The 4-4-2 provides two banks of four when defending, making it the most stable shape to reflect this week’s performances.

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2️⃣ Midfield Symmetry and Width

Round 6 was defined by wide influence.

Several wide players did not operate as inverted forwards or free 10s. They played true flank roles:

• Stretching the pitch

• Delivering crosses

• Tracking back defensively

• Supporting transitions

Meanwhile, central midfielders were engines of control — breaking opposition attacks, distributing forward quickly, and maintaining tempo.

A 4-3-3 would have forced one of the wide performers inside.

A 3-5-2 would require wing-backs rather than natural wide midfielders.

The 4-4-2 keeps the midfield roles honest and balanced.

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3️⃣ The Striker Partnership Made the Decision Easy

This round was not about a single superstar striker.

It was about partnership.

The two most impactful forwards complemented each other:

• One stretching the defensive line.

• One finishing clinically.

• Both contributing directly to their teams’ outcomes.

A lone striker system would misrepresent their dynamic. The front two in a 4-4-2 mirrors exactly how they influenced their matches.

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4️⃣ Tactical Simplicity Reflects Performance Reality

The Team of the Week should reward what actually happened on the pitch.

This week was about:

• Defensive organization

• Wing play

• Direct attacking combinations

• Efficiency in key moments

That is classic 4-4-2 football.

And in high-pressure final-round matches, classic structures often produce the clearest performances.

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🔥 Team of the Week – Round 6

🧤 Goalkeeper

Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti

In decisive fixtures, goalkeepers either hold their nerve or collapse under pressure. Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti was composed, alert, and commanding throughout his match.

He organized his back line effectively, dealt confidently with aerial threats, and made crucial interventions at key moments. In a final group-stage match where defensive errors are unforgivable, his presence provided calm stability.

His performance wasn’t flashy — it was authoritative. And that is exactly what a Team of the Week goalkeeper should represent.

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🛡️ Defence (Back Four)

RB – Steve Ebuel(a)

Operating on the right side, Ebuel(a) delivered balance between defensive solidity and forward support. He handled wide threats effectively while also contributing to build-up phases.

His positional awareness prevented overloads down his flank, and his timing in forward runs added width without leaving space behind. In high-stakes matches, intelligent full-back positioning is invaluable — and he delivered that consistently.

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CB – Yasser Ibrahim

Yasser Ibrahim demonstrated leadership and composure in central defence. He was dominant in aerial duels and decisive in clearances.

Beyond defensive actions, his distribution from the back helped initiate transitions. In matches where opponents push aggressively in search of goals, a composed centre-back is essential. Ibrahim was exactly that — calm under pressure and tactically disciplined.

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CB – Osama Galal

Osama Galal complemented his defensive partner perfectly. Where one stepped forward to intercept, the other covered intelligently.

Galal’s reading of the game stood out. He neutralized attacking runs early, prevented dangerous second balls, and maintained structural integrity in the defensive line.

Together, the central pairing reflected the essence of 4-4-2: compact, organized, and coordinated.

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LB – Mohamed Hussein

Mohamed Hussein balanced defensive reliability with measured forward contribution.

He handled opposition wingers effectively while providing width when his team transitioned forward. His ability to track back quickly prevented counter-attacks from developing down his side.

In a formation that relies on disciplined wide defence, Hussein fulfilled his responsibilities perfectly.

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🎯 Midfield (Flat Four)

RM – Youssef Mehri

Youssef Mehri provided width, penetration, and work rate.

He stretched opposition defences horizontally, creating space for central players to operate. His movement off the ball disrupted defensive lines, while his tracking back ensured defensive coverage.

In a 4-4-2, wide midfielders must contribute both offensively and defensively. Mehri delivered in both aspects.

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CM – Ewerton

Ewerton’s influence came through control and composure.

He dictated tempo, recycled possession efficiently, and disrupted opposition transitions. His positioning allowed him to shield the defence while still supporting attacking phases.

In high-pressure matches, control in central midfield is crucial — and Ewerton ensured his team never lost its structure.

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CM – Marwan Attia

Marwan Attia was the engine of midfield.

Dynamic in transitions, aggressive in duels, and intelligent in distribution, he connected defence and attack seamlessly.

His work rate allowed the formation to maintain balance. When wide players advanced, he covered space. When forwards pressed, he supported behind them.

Attia embodies the two-way central midfielder required in a 4-4-2.

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LM – Mounir Chouiar

Mounir Chouiar brought creativity and attacking threat from the left flank.

He attacked defenders directly, delivered quality balls into dangerous areas, and provided unpredictability in the final third.

At the same time, he respected defensive duties — tracking runners and maintaining midfield compactness.

His performance justified a natural wide role rather than an inverted or central system.

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⚽ Attack (Front Two)

ST – Brayan León Muñiz

Brayan León Muñiz was relentless in stretching defensive lines.

His movement forced centre-backs deeper, creating space between defensive and midfield lines. He attacked channels intelligently and converted opportunities efficiently.

In decisive matches, strikers must be clinical. Muñiz delivered when it mattered.

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ST – Paul Bassène

Paul Bassène complemented Muñiz with intelligent positioning and finishing instincts.

While Muñiz stretched defences, Bassène exploited pockets of space inside the box. His composure in key moments turned pressure into tangible reward.

Their partnership reflects classic 4-4-2 synergy — movement, balance, and shared responsibility in attack.

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📌 Summary

Round 6 of the CAF Champions League group stage was about execution under pressure.

This Team of the Week reflects:

• Defensive discipline

• Midfield balance

• Wide influence

• Attacking partnership

The 4-4-2 formation was not chosen for nostalgia. It was chosen because it best represents how these players performed in their respective matches.

Two organized defensive lines.

Four hardworking midfielders.

Two decisive forwards.

In high-stakes football, clarity often beats complexity.

And in this final round of the group stage, the clearest performers fit perfectly into a classic 4-4-2.

Sometimes, the old system still tells the most accurate story.