AFCON 2017 awards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failed to shine for hosts while Christian Bassogog deserves player of the tournament gong

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The Africa Cup of Nations final brought great drama with Cameroon beating the competition's most successful side, Egypt, in a pulsating final on Sunday. 

Sportsmail's Jonny Singer was in Gabon for the duration of the tournament so is the perfect man to reveal who impressed and who failed to shine.

So without further ado, here's who he thinks picked up the following awards... 

Player of the tournament – Christian Bassogog

A complete unknown just a few months ago, Bassogog has excelled in Gabon, starring from the right wing and leading Cameroon to victory. 

His pace and trickery have fooled many a full back, and it would not be a shock to see him move to a bigger club sooner rather than later. His partnership on the flanks with Benjamin Moukandjo was crucial, and although others stole the show in the final, it was Bassogog who carried the Indomitable Lions there. 

Special mentions also for goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa, and Burkina Faso's Charles Kabore.

Cameroon midfielder Christian Bassogog shone during the tournament in Gabon

Coach of the tournament – Aliou Cisse

While no-one can question the remarkable job Hugo Broos has done in leading Cameroon to the final, one of the teams he put out on the way, Senegal, played the best football in this AFCON. 

Aliou Cisse has been blessed with a talented squad, but the way he got Sadio Mane, Balde Keita and the rest to play was magnificent. 

In the end they lost on penalties after running out of steam 60 minutes into their quarter-final, but had Mame Biram Diouf's finishing, or Moussa Sow's, been marginally better we might have been talking about Cisse's Senegal as the most exciting African champions in a generation. 

He deserves credit, and the time to bring this team back in two years time.

Former Premier League star Aliou Cisse led Senegal with distinction during the competition

Goal of the tournament – Vincent Aboubakar

There have been so many fantastic goals in this AFCON. Benjamin Moukandjo, Henri Saivet and Mohamed Salah have produced sublime free kicks. 

Salah, Paul-Joes M'Poku and Farouk Miya scored sensational long-range strikes. Rachid Alioui's was even better. And Mathieu Dossevi and Mohamed Elneny rounded off the best team goals of the tournament for Togo and Egypt respectively.

But nothing comes close to Aboubakar's moment of magic. That it came a minute from the end of the final made it even sweeter, but even isolation the goal was quite brilliant. 

The touch to bring down Sebastien Salli's raking pass, the flick with a heel over Ali Gabr's head, and the calmness to finish under pressure. It was the final goal of this AFCON – it will be remembered as the defining goal.

Vincent Aboubakar wheels away in celebration after scoring the winning goal in Sunday's final

Break-out star of the tournament – Herve Koffi

It's a shame, but Koffi will be remembered for a miss, rather than any saves he made. His decision to take a penalty so early in the shoot-out will be questioned, and in the end it cost Burkina Faso a place in the final. 

But it should not take away from the 20-year-old's superb displays between the sticks before that point. A good shot-stopper, who will only grow in stature, Koffi can have a long future at the top.

Burkina Faso's Herve Koffi is consoled by Ali Gabr and Mohamed Salah after missing a penalty

Biggest disappointment (player) - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 

This should have been Aubameyang's tournament. In front of his home fans, in magnificent form for his club and approaching his peak as a footballer, the Borussia Dortmund striker had the chance to lead his country to international glory. 

Instead, he barely participated, scoring a tap-in and a penalty, and contributing little else. His miss from three yards put Gabon out of the tournament, and summed up his AFCON.

Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a disappointing tournament for the host nation

Biggest disappointment (team) - Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast arrived as champions, but left before the quarter-finals. For all the considerable talent in their squad, they failed to win a single game, and when they knew victory would take them through, were beaten by Morocco, putting in a tame performance. 

Wilfried Zaha failed to spark the Elephants into life, they badly lack a central striker in form, and the midfield never produced the creativity it ought to have been capable of.

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha could not help Ivory Coast progress out of Group C

Biggest disappointment (absent)

The eight Cameroon players, including Liverpool's Joel Matip, who refused call-ups to this squad. Nothing at club level can compare to what the Indomitable Lions have just achieved – especially not losing away at Hull.

Liverpool defender Joel Matip decided to stay at home rather than represent Cameroon 

Biggest shock – Tunisia 2-1 Algeria

Cameroon winning is a remarkable achievement, and their win against Senegal was probably the unlikeliest result of the knockout stages, but they did it on penalties, so it loses some of its shock value. 

Algeria's early exit, largely down to a brilliant Tunisia performance in Franceville, was probably the surprise of the tournament.

Leicester playmaker Riyad Mahrez could not help Algeria make it to the knockout stage

Magic moment

Two men share this. Aristide Bance, the hero of Burkina Faso's run to the semi-final, looked to have sewn up this award with his off-the-bench free kick against Tunisia which sparked incredible scenes in front of a huge group of ex-pat fans in Libreville. 

But Essam El-Hadary matched that with his two penalty saves to put the Stallions out in the next game. El-Hadary, at 44, showed he is still the supreme goalkeeper in African football.

Egypt keeper Essam El-Hadary rolled back the years to help his country progress to the final

Heartbreaking moment of the tournament – Sadio Mane

We saw several players break down in tears during this tournament – Koffi after his penalty miss was devastated, while El-Hadary, on the brink of being the first ever player to five titles, couldn't hold back his emotions at full time in the final.

But none of them collapsed so completely as Mane after his penalty miss. It was extremely difficult to watch for those of us in Franceville as the Liverpool man had to be held upright, and then carried off the field, by his team-mates. He had been one of the stars of the tournament to that point, and didn't deserve his AFCON to end like that. 

Senegal star Sadio Mane looks dejected after missing a penalty at the quarter-final stage

Team of the tournament 

Ondoa (Cameroon); Afful (Ghana), Hegazy (Egypt), Kone (Burkina Faso), Coulibaly (Burkina Faso); Siani (Cameroon), Kabore (Burkina Faso); Bassogog (Cameroon), Salah (Egypt), Bouanga (Gabon); Kabananga (DR Congo)

Subs: El-Hadary (Egypt), Ngadeu-Ngadjui (Cameroon), Fai (Cameroon), Billiat (Zimbabwe), Keita (Senegal), Atsu (Ghana), Msakni (Tunisia)