National Teams
Super Eagles among six nations favored for 2025 AFCON glory — Chihab Ellili
By Dayo Awoniyi
Tunisia’s head coach Chihab Ellili has tipped Nigeria’s Super Eagles as one of the six leading contenders for the continental crown, alongside some of Africa’s most decorated sides as anticipation builds for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Ellili, who previously managed Algerian giants ES Sétif, delivered a candid assessment of his own country’s chances, admitting that Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles may not be at the same level as Africa’s elite going into the showpiece tournament.
“We are not genuine contenders because of the average quality of our Europe-based players and the steady decline of talents from the domestic league,” Ellili said.
Instead, the Tunisian tactician listed Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, Cameroon, and Nigeria as the nations with both pedigree and firepower to mount a serious title challenge in Morocco this winter.
For Nigeria, the endorsement comes at a time when expectations are once again high.
The three-time African champions last lifted the trophy in 2013 under the late Stephen Keshi and have reached the semifinals in their last two appearances (2019 and 2023).
With stars such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and Wilfred Ndidi forming the core of the squad, the Super Eagles are widely seen as a team capable of reclaiming continental glory.
Ellili’s remarks also touched a sensitive chord in Tunisia, a nation that famously claimed its only AFCON crown in 2004 on home soil after beating Morocco in the final. That triumph came after they had edged Nigeria in the semifinals on penalties — a match still etched in Tunisian football folklore.
Since then, however, Tunisia’s performances at major tournaments have been marked by frustration, with repeated exits in the knockout stages and a struggle to match the consistency of Africa’s traditional powerhouses.
The 2025 AFCON, scheduled from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, will bring together Africa’s top 24 nations in Morocco, a country that has positioned itself as a rising global football hub.
With its modern infrastructure, passionate fans, and recent international success — highlighted by the Atlas Lions’ run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals — this edition is expected to be one of the most competitive in the tournament’s history.
Ellili’s comments are likely to spark debate across the continent, but they also underline the growing consensus: that Nigeria’s Super Eagles, alongside Africa’s other giants, will be under intense pressure to deliver when the road to glory begins in Morocco this December.
