Super Eagles‘ new coach, Eric Sekou Chelle as well as erstwhile Nigeria’s trainer, Gernot Rohr will be in the mix on Monday as the long- awaited Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) 2025 Final Draw holds today in Rabat, Morocco.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) hinted at the weekend that the Super Eagles’ contingent to the Draw slated for the iconic Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat includes Chelle along with Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor and Chairman of NFF Technical and Development Committee, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa.
Rohr who ensured qualification of neighbouring Republic of Benin, told NationSports he will grace the occasion even as the organisers, CAF, confirmed yesterday that no fewer than 20 coaches along with notable African football legends are already in Rabat for the auspicious event.
Set to kick off at 7pm Nigerian time, three time African champions, Nigeria have been placed in Pot 1, alongside seven-time winners Egypt, three-time champions and Cup holders Cote d’Ivoire, two-time winners Algeria, hosts and 1976 champions Morocco and 2021 winners Senegal.
The draw will determine the composition of six groups of four teams, with the top two in each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advancing to the knockout rounds.
According to CAF, those already in Rabat also include Emerse Faé who led the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire to glory on home soil at the expense of the Super Eagles at the delayed 2023 AFCON Final. There is also Pape Thiaw, who will guide Senegal in his first AFCON as head coach, and Vladimir Petković, tasked with reviving Algeria’s fortunes after a dip in recent years.
Legends expected in audience include Cameroon’s Rigobert Song who holds the record for most AFCON matches played as well as Essam El Hadary, the record-setting Egyptian goalkeeper.
There are also Morocco’s own Mustapha Hadji and Côte d’Ivoire’s Serge Aurier and among other heavyweight dignitaries.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net