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AFCON

WE’RE CONFIDENT TO OVERCOME NIGERIA IN GROUP B – MADAGASCAR

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA

Madagascar, the big island country drawn in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations’ Group B is not losing any slip of possible annihilation by the two big teams of the group – Nigeria and Guinea.

Rather, the championship’s debutants feel they can overcome all the teams in the group including fellow debutants, Burundi. Madagascar, whose national team is called Barea, according to newspaper, L’Express de Madagascar recalls the tough time their clubs had given Nigerian clubs in the past.

First to be recalled was the 1979 encounter of Bendel Insurance and AS Sotema in the then African Winners’ Cup that is no called the Confederation Cup. Bendel Insurance won the first leg match of the quarter finals encounter, 2-0 in Madagascar only to surprisingly lose by the same margin at the National Stadium, Lagos. Bendel however survived 5-3 by penalties.

The newspaper was less flamboyant in recalling the semi-final clash of Bendel United and FC BFV of Madagascar in the 1989 edition. Bendel United won 4-1 at home and forced a goalless draw in Madagascar.

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L’Express de Madagascar placed its optimism on the Bendel Insurance match of 1979 while overlooking the fact that in four previous encounters with the Super Eagles’ Madagascar did not score a goal and lost three of the matches.

The newspaper also believes Madagascar can also overcome Guinea. Another Madagascar publication, Newsmada, translated from French believes the first steps of the Madagascar side to glory in their maiden Africa Cup of Nations outing is “less laborious than expected”.

The newspaper rejoiced that Madagascar had avoided the tough teams of Egypt, Cameroon and Senegal. To the publication, Nigeria and Guinea are better option for Madagascar.

It claims that apart from Nigeria, the other opposition that the Coach Nicolas Dupuis will have to dismiss is Guinea. The newspaper is of the opinion that even if Madagascar is unable to overcome Nigeria and Guinea, it will do the same for Burundi and qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, even though direct qualification was desirable.  

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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AFCON

Nigerians, other nationals can apply, as CAF and Morocco Launch Volunteer Programme for AFCON 2025

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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:

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  • 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

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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).

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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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AFCON

Morocco Takes Delivery of 723 Chinese Buses Ahead of AFCON

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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.

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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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