Didier Drogba has revealed he is part of what may be the world’s most star-studded sporting WhatsApp group.

The former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker shares the chat with Tom Brady, LeBron James, Virat Kohli, Rafael Nadal, and Hollywood actor Will Smith, all of whom, like him, are team owners in the E1 Series, the world’s first all-electric international powerboat competition.

Now in its second season, E1 will stage its first-ever African race in Lagos, Nigeria, on 4–5 October, with nine teams set to compete on the city’s lagoon.

For Drogba, the milestone represents a dream fulfilled.

“When we decided to jump on the journey with E1, the main goal was always ‘let’s bring the race to Africa’,” Drogba told BBC Sport Africa.

He said, “We want people to discover our culture, to discover our history. That’s why Lagos is a good choice, because it’s a vibrant city.”

Drogba’s partner and co-investor, Gabrielle Lemaire who also serves as vice president of the Didier Drogba Foundation believes Nigeria’s largest city offers the perfect backdrop.

“The people are very young and it’s an opportunity for us to advocate for sustainability,” she said.

E1 promotes itself as “pioneering a sustainable future in marine sports,” using innovative clean technologies to regenerate coastal waters. Previous host cities include Venice, Monaco, Doha, Lake Como, and Dubrovnik, with Miami set to close the season.