Former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh has expressed pride and excitement after conducting the preliminary draws for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), describing the moment as a special honour in his continuing journey within African football.
The historic draw ceremony was held in Rabat, Morocco, with Oliseh—an AFCON winner with Nigeria—among the respected former stars selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to oversee the process.
Reflecting on the experience, the former midfielder shared his enthusiasm in a heartfelt message.
“It was an absolute honor to handle the Preliminary Round draws for CAF this week,” Oliseh said.
“Africa is getting ready for another unforgettable football festival. Simply beautiful.”
Oliseh, who played a key role in Nigeria’s continental success during his illustrious career, has remained an influential voice in the game since hanging up his boots, contributing as a coach, analyst, and football administrator.
His involvement in the 2027 AFCON draw was warmly received by fans and pundits, many of whom praised CAF for recognizing African legends and involving them directly in shaping the future of the continent’s biggest football event.
With the preliminary phase now set in motion, anticipation continues to build ahead of what promises to be another landmark edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
