AFCON
How Bafana Bafana Plan to Play
South Africa’s coach, Stuart Baxter has opted for strategies that cover up for the shot camping he had with his players.
Sport Village Square has gathered that the English man, whose team only assembled on Sunday and had had just two full days of training on Monday and Tuesday before taking a flight to Nigeria on Wednesday has told the players that tactical play will be the only option left for them.
South African sources informed Sports Village Square that Baxter told the Bafana Bafana players “to work under pressure in confined spaces‚ then release the ball quickly on the counterattack”.
They will train on Thursday afternoon after their flight to Uyo on the outer fields of the match venue‚ Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Before leaving South Africa‚ Coach Stuart Baxter at training sessions was seen working the players to react quickly in confined spaces‚ preparing for the pressure Nigeria will undoubtedly try to put on them,
He analysed the Super Eagles as a mixture of youth and experience. He told his players that the Super Eagles “might be on the whole smaller physically than previous generations‚ but still like to play a high-tempo contact game.
“I think they’re a playing team. They’ve got a lot of players who want the ball into feet‚” Baxter said.
“They attack space because they’ve got speed up-front. If they build up they will attack space in-between and behind our defenders in the last third.
“Maybe they don’t have the same extreme physical capabilities of the earlier Nigerian teams. But I think that they are still physical in their approach to the game.
“They want to press the ball immediately after they lose it. They want to get in your face. I’m sure that they want to drive the tempo of the game on.
“I’m hoping that there will be a bit of that physicality about it. Because then I think our mobility‚ and our speed and skill‚ will come to the fore.”
Sports Village Square was also informed that some of Baxter’s training sessions have involved three teams keeping one-touch possession on volleyball-sized fields‚ in competition for the most touches.
Also, players worked to keep the ball in confined spaces‚ then releasing runners with cross-field passes. It said much of the pressurising approach the new Bafana coach expects from the Super Eagles‚ though Baxter said South Africa have more than one game plan lined up‚ depending on what Nigeria produce on the day.
“What we know is that they want to play a high tempo. That as soon as they lose the ball they immediately press. The same as (Liverpool manager) Jurgen Klopp’s ‘Gegenpressing’‚” Baxter was quoted as saying.
“And we know that we’ve got to be good at getting out of that first pressure. If we do that‚ and the game opens slightly‚ then we have a chance to use our speed and mobility and hit them.
“And we may decide to press them really high. Or we may decide to drop off and create the space behind them for our quicker players to go into. It doesn’t really matter.
“But we’ve got to make sure that if we go‚ we go together. And if we stay‚ we stay together.
“And when we win the ball that we’re calm enough to get out of their pressure‚ and then use what we are good at,” Baxter remarked.
AFCON
Nigerians, other nationals can apply, as CAF and Morocco Launch Volunteer Programme for AFCON 2025
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Morocco have launched the official Volunteer Programme for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, billed to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
According to CAF, more than 4,000 volunteers will be recruited to play a central role in ensuring the success of Africa’s most prestigious football tournament, which will be staged across six cities and nine stadiums in Morocco.
Applications are now open at volunteers.cafonline.com and will close on 8 October 2025. The opportunity is open to anyone above the age of 18.
Volunteers will be deployed across multiple functional areas, including media operations, spectator services, accreditation, hospitality, and fan engagement. Selected individuals will receive professional training ahead of the competition and work behind the scenes to deliver a memorable AFCON.
CAF stated that the programme is designed not only to support tournament operations but also to create an alumni network of skilled Africans who can contribute to future sporting events across the continent. Successful applicants will benefit from:
- Training and skill development.
- Official uniforms and certificates of participation.
- Networking opportunities with peers and professionals.
- The chance to contribute to Africa’s football legacy.
Volunteer registration opened on 17 September 2025. Selection and training will take place in October and November, with operations commencing in mid-December through to the tournament’s conclusion on 18 January 2026.
CAF described the initiative as an “exciting opportunity” for Africans to contribute to the growth of the continent’s flagship sporting event, which is expected to draw millions of visitors to Morocco.
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AFCON
CAF Security Chief, Nigeria’s Emeruwa, Leads Inspection of Tangier Stadium Ahead of Major Tournaments
Nigeria’s Dr. Christian Emeruwa, President of the Security and Safety Division of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), on Thursday, September 18, led an inspection visit to the Grand Stade de Tangier as preparations intensify for upcoming continental and global football events.
Emeruwa, who heads CAF’s continental security architecture, was joined by CAF Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba, senior Moroccan officials, and executives of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
The delegation also included managers of operational companies at the Grand Stade and SONARGES executives.
According to Le 360, the Nigerian official expressed satisfaction with the stadium’s facilities after touring key operational areas, including the main control room with its giant surveillance screen, as well as spectator, player, and VIP access zones.
The inspection was bolstered by the presence of Morocco’s top security and administrative officers—the regional commander of the Royal Gendarmerie, officials of the Auxiliary Forces and Civil Protection, the Wali of Security, the governor in charge of Internal Affairs, and representatives of the National Agency for Public Equipment (ANEP).
A technical meeting followed the tour, where engineers presented recent safety and security upgrades. Among the highlights was the planned installation of a FIFA-standard tarpaulin roof to enhance the venue’s compliance with global hosting requirements.
For Nigeria, the spotlight on Dr. Emeruwa underscores the country’s growing influence in African football administration, particularly in the critical areas of safety and security management for CAF competitions.
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Morocco has received 723 high-end buses from Chinese manufacturer Yutong as part of preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicks off on December 21.
Yutong said on social media that the fleet “has officially rolled off the production line” and will provide “comprehensive transport services and reliable operational support” during the tournament.
An official handover ceremony was held on Friday at the company’s facility in Zhengzhou, Henan province, attended by Moroccan representatives and Yutong executives.
The buses were designed to cope with Morocco’s terrain and climate, including steep slopes, heat and sandstorms. They feature an independent front axle suspension to navigate narrow city streets and Yutong’s in-house “Blue Core System” for fuel efficiency.
The delivery is the largest single order of Chinese buses in Africa. Yutong will station more than 100 technicians in Morocco to provide training, maintenance and round-the-clock support during AFCON.
The deal is part of Morocco’s broader transport strategy, which includes plans to purchase 7,000 new buses by 2030—half of them electric—as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
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