AFCON
ANOTHER EGYPT 2019 TOURNAMENT: NIGERIA AWAITS WINNER OF KENYA-SUDAN CLASH
The victorious Nigerian side that hammered Libya 4-0 on Monday will wait till Tuesday evening to know their next opponents in the final qualifying duel for the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations which is the path to qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Kenya found themselves in the same situation as the Nigerian side and will be hoping to upturn a 2-0 deficit to advance and face Nigeria in June for the final ticket to Egypt 2019.
According to Kenyan newspaper, Nation, the Kenyans are banking on home advantage to overcome Sudan. The match comes up this Tuesday.
Confidence and positive mentality punctuated the Kenya’s final training session on Monday. The Zdravko Logarusic-led Sudan arrived Kenya on Sunday and had a feel of the match venue on Monday evening.
Kenya’s Nation reports that the team’s stand-in captain Michael Kibwage told journalists that he was aware that “everyone is looking forward to a big victory, we want to get an early goal that will get us on the right path.” Kenya’s Head coach Francis Kimanzi has been boosted by the return of Sofapaka striker Pistone Mutamba, who had travelled to Ghana with Harambee Stars.
Mathare United playmaker James Kinyanjui is another addition from the team that went to Sudan as Kimanzi aims to go offensive from the opening whistle.
“We need to create more chances than them, something we didn’t do in Sudan, but there’s a huge possibility of scoring more,” said Kimanzi, who could miss forwards John Avire and Jafari Owiti to injury.
The duo did not train with the entire squad, but jogged on the sidelines.
Sweden-based Ovella Ochieng and Kariobangi Sharks’ James Mazembe will be expected to provide ammunition from the flanks, as Sven Yidah and Ibrahim Shambi marshal the central midfield.
Ulinzi Stars custodian Timothy Odhiambo is likely to start ahead of Sharks’ Brian Bwire, who conceded a lousy opening goal in the first leg.
USA-based Joseph “Crouch” Okumu, who captained the side in the 8-1 aggregate win over Mauritius in the first round last year, is unavailable due to club commitments.
The match will head direct to penalties to decide the winner in the event it ends 2-0 in favour of the hosts.
The winner of the encounter will face Nigeria in the first week of June to qualify for the final tournament which will hold in two stadiums in Cairo – Cairo International Stadium and Al Salam Stadium from November 8 to 22.
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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