AFCON
I beat Nigeria in the Dressing Room, Says South Africa’s Baxter
It may not be a mere coincidence that the two goals with which South Africa beat Nigeria’s Super Eagles came in the second half.
Sports Village Square gathered that Bafana Bafana’s man-of-the moment; Coach Stuart Baxter said his confidence was shaking in the first half when things did not work out the way he had expected in the opening 20 minutes when he had planned to silent the Uyo crowd.
TimesLive, a South African publication, reported that the coach said at that point he knew he had to “rectify key aspects if South Africa were to avoid being swamped by Nigeria”.
The team was reportedly not cohesive at that point. “I thought‚ the first half was 20 minutes under the cosh where we couldn’t get out. We didn’t have any meaningful possession‚ we didn’t open the field.
“I knew that if we continued to not open the field we were going to get bogged down. So‚ I had four things in my pocket that (assistant coach) Thabo Senong had written down that I thought I had to address‚ which if I didn’t we were going to get swamped; and if I did‚ we had a chance.
“Because we had done it twice‚ and that’s where we hit the post‚ and Keagan should have got a shot off and didn’t – but it was a great attack to get us there.
“And I turned to Thabo‚ and said‚ ‘That’s our game tonight‚ and we’ve not done it nearly enough’. That was because we had rushed when we had been in possession‚ because we were chasing the game.
“So I went into the change-rooms‚ and it was calm‚ and I said‚ ‘Guys‚ this is our chance. If we open the game up we’ll be better than they think.
“They think they’re going to swamp us in the second half. He (Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr) is horse-whipping them in there’.
“I said‚ ‘Come on‚ we do this properly’. So we spoke about passing the ball into pockets of space (rather than to feet‚ keeping players’ backs to goal‚ meaning they would turn and lose possession).
“We spoke about turning Nigeria over more quickly. We spoke about getting our fullbacks higher down the line.
“And suddenly we’re playing better. And then the confidence showed‚ and the swagger‚ and the little back heels around the box.
“And that’s Bafana’s game. We’ve got to be organised defensively‚ and build upon that.”
Bafana’s opening goal came from an overlapping run and cross by right-back Ramahlwe Mphahlele‚ headed in by Tokelo Rantie in the 56th minute.
Zwane hit the post again from a fine build-up‚ then substitute Percy Tau caught Nigeria on the counter-attack from a South Africa corner for the second in the 80th.
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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