AFCON
ALEX IWOBI IS MAN TO WATCH AT AFCON 2019, SAYS OMERUO
Nigeria and Arsenal player, Alex Iwobi may not have made the final cut in the race to become Africa Footballer of the Year award holding in Senegal on Tuesday, his time may just come at the end of the season.
According to Chelsea FC loanee and Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, Alex Iwobi is one of the key player that will lead Nigeria to glory this summer’s African Cup of Nations.
Nigeria who are three-time winner of the competition are one of the team’s favored to win the tournament going by the performance of the team since the last World Cup qualifying round of matches and the ongoing tournament to elite continental tournament where they qualified for both events with a game in hand.
Omeruo, who is
currently on loan at Spanish side CD Leganes in an interview with goal.com stated
that England-based midfielder Iwobi is now an important player in the Nigeria
squad.
“Iwobi has improved a lot and he brings that
into the national team as well and he has good footwork, he moves well and
he enjoys what he does. For him, it is fun to play football. He is a really
good player but the exciting thing is there’s more to come,” he remarked.
Iwobi, 22, is enjoying his football at the
moment having established himself as an important player for both English
giants Arsenal and Nigeria since last year.
“We have a big chance because we have got some
quality players coming up. This set of boys, they are good, young and the
coaches are good. Anything can happen now for us,” he added.
“If we keep working hard and listen to the
coaches then we can achieve a lot for the country. We just need to work
together more and increase our understanding of each other. The last meet up
was good because we had a lot of time to train.
“Right now, the team keeps changing. When we
play together more and understand each other more then we might be the team to
beat.”
The
tournament will be hosted by either Egypt or South Africa between June and
July.
Nigeria last won the tournament in 2013 but
failed to qualify for the last two editions and will return to the stage under
the guidance of German coach Gernot Rohr, will be hoping to clinch their fourth
AFCON title.
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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