CAF have announced their official Best XI for the first round of the 2025 AFCON with Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle and forward Ademola Lookman making the cut, while Raphael Onyedika, who shone against Uganda, was overlooked.
11 of the very best. 🌟
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Your #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 team of the group stage is here!#WePlayDifferent pic.twitter.com/NqGAkYXPvw
The Super Eagles, under Eric Chelle, won Group C with a perfect score of nine points from three matches while playing adventurous attacking football to finish with a tournament high of eight goals in the first round.
Cafonline.com reported: “Under the guidance of Eric Chelle, the Nigeria national team displayed tactical brilliance and a cohesive team structure. Chelle’s approach was marked by a solid defensive setup, quick transitions, and giving attacking players the freedom to express themselves.
“His clear vision and consistent choices allowed Nigeria to perform at their best during the group stage, showcasing a balanced style of play.
“Chelle’s ability to maximize the potential of his squad and build a collective identity was one of the highlights of the group stage.”
Ademola Lookman was Man of the Match against Tunisia and has scored two goals and made two assists in as many games at the tournament.
“The Nigerian forward turned midfielder, Lookman was a constant threat with his direct running, creativity, and eye for goal. His versatility allowed him to play both as an attacking midfielder and winger, and his movement off the ball was a nightmare for defenders,” reported cafonline.com
“Lookman’s intelligence in finding pockets of space and his ability to produce key passes in critical moments made him one of the group stage’s most dangerous players.
It is a very representative Dream XI with hosts Morocco the only team with two players, while Egypt, DR Congo, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Algeria, Cameroon and Tunisia were also represented.
