AFCON
CAMEROON ESCAPE COMROS ATTEMPT AT AFCON OUSTER
BY MATTHEW SMITH
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) have dismissed Comoros’ final appeal to have Cameroon thrown out of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) following the west African nation being stripped of the rights to host the tournament.
Cameroon were initially selected to host this summer’s tournament, however concerns over delays to infrastructure development and security saw the Confederation of African Football (CAF) move the finals to Egypt.
Cameroon were allowed to continue participating in qualifying however, and finished second in Group B along with Morocco, Malawi and Comoros, earning them one of 24 spots in the tournament.
The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) were also given hosting rights to the 2021 tournament, despite CAF having a pre-existing agreement with the Cote d’Ivoire to host the event.
In response, the Comoros Football Federation (FFC) filed a claim to CAS that the Cameroon national team should have been disqualified by CAF after FECAFOOT was stripped of hosting rights.
The first appeal was filed by the FFC on January 28 “on the basis of a failure to reach a decision constituting a denial of justice”.
The FFC then filed a second appeal on February 11 against CAF’s decision not to suspend Cameroon for CAN 2019 and to allocate the organisation of CAN 2021 to FECAFOOT.
The cases were heard by a panel of three CAS arbitrators on May 29 in Lausanne at the organisation’s headquarters, but were deemed inadmissible.
CAS ruled that FFC had no legal claim against FECAFOOT, nor did they have any sporting claim – Comoros finished bottom of the qualifying group, and so would not have been allocated Cameroon’s spot in the finals regardless of the outcome.
A statement from CAS read: “The Panel referred to the consistent case law of the CAS according to which any legal claim must be based on an interest worthy of protection.
“The panel concluded that the FFC had no concrete sporting interest. Indeed, according to the CAF regulations, the Panel considered that, even in the event of disqualification of the Cameroon national team, such disqualification would have no impact on the ranking of the FFC in its qualifying group for the 2019 CAN and that it was therefore mathematically impossible for it to qualify for this competition.
“The CAS Panel also concluded that the FFC had no sufficient legal interest in requesting that FECAFOOT be suspended by CAF.”
– insidethegames
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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