Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has been named the best coach in the group stage of the 2025 AFCON by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), www.aclsports.com reports.
Chelle, 48, led Nigeria to three wins out of three in Group C of Africa’s biggest football event, making the Super Eagles just the second team to achieve it in the tournament.
In the announcement on Friday morning, Chelle – who was named Super Eagles head coach in January 2025 – was recognised for leading the 2013 AFCON champions to their outstanding results with the Best coach award.
In the recognition of players on Friday morning, forward Ademola Lookman, who has notched two goals and two assists in the group stage, was also named in the team of the group stage.
Egypt and Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, who had made a strong performance in the group stage, starts in goal. The back four had Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco), Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), and Yahia Attiat-Allah El Abdi (Morocco).
In midfield, where Lookman is listed, he is joined by Brahim Diaz (Morocco) and Carlos Baleba (Cameroon), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), and Sadio Mané (Senegal), all line up in a star-studded three-man attack.
The round of 16 for the 2025 tournament begins on Saturday with Senegal against Sudan in Tangier in the first encounter, before Mali against Tunisia in Casablanca in the night game. Meanwhile, Nigeria will face Mozambique in Fes on Monday.
Samuel Areo, reporting from Fes, Morocco.
