AFCON
AFCON 2019:EGYPT PIN HOPES ON SALAH
BY DAN PLAMER
Egypt are hoping that star striker Mohamed Salah will guide them to Africa Cup of Nations glory on home soil with this year’s tournament kicking off later this evening.
The Liverpool striker, regarded as one of the world’s best players and hero-worshiped throughout Egypt, goes into the event having won the UEFA Champions League with his club this month.
He will be expected to get the goals to help the Egyptians earn an eighth continental title and a first since 2010 with the hosts installed as the bookmakers’ favourites.
They will open the tournament in Group A against Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium.
This is the first edition of the Africa Cup of Nations to feature 24 countries with the tournament expanded from its usual 16 by organisers the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2017.
CAF also opted to host the event in June and July instead of the normal January slot, which caused conflict with clubs who did not want to release their African players during the middle of the season.
Build-up to the tournament has been chaotic with Egypt only installed as hosts in January after Cameroon lost the rights due to delays to infrastructure and security concerns.
The CAF itself is in a state of turmoil with FIFA appointing their secretary general Fatma Samoura as the head of a group which will run the continental body due to a series of corruption scandals.
This includes CAF President Ahmad facing allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct.
Egypt’s challengers include Senegal who will look to be inspired by Liverpool winger Sadio Mané and three-time winners Nigeria who return to the tournament for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2013.
Defending champions Cameroon are aiming for a sixth title while fellow west-African powerhouses Ivory Coast and Ghana can also not be counted out as they chase their third and fifth wins respectively.
Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia join Egypt in making up a strong North African contingent.
The Egyptians and Zimbabwe are joined in Group A by Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Group B features Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi with Senegal, Algeria, Kenya and Tanzania colliding in Group C.
Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa and Namibia have been placed in Group D with Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Angola in Group E.
Group F features Cameroon, Ghana, Benin and Guinea-Bissau.
The top two sides in each group and the best four third-placed teams will reach the last 16.
As well as the Cairo International Stadium, two more venues will be used in the capital − the 30 June Stadium and the Al Salam Stadium.
There are four host cities in all with Alexandria Stadium, Suez Stadium and Ismailia Stadium also staging matches.
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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