AFCON
TAKE-AWAYS IN THE UPCOMING NIGERIA-MADAGASCAR CLASH
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Both Nigeria and Madagascar meet in Alexandria on Sunday in continuation of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. With Madagascar defeat of Burundi on Thursday, the Sunday match has assumed greater importance that previously anticipated. As usual, Sports Village Square takes an insightful look at the encounter and comes out with the following points of interest.
- This is a match that the two topmost chieftains of CAF, Ahmad and Amaju Pinnick will naturally have vested interests. CAF president is from Madagascar and will wish his team make new marks by crossing the group stage at the very first attempt. Amaju Pinnick will want his Super Eagles to achieve a 100 per cent feat at the group stage for the first time ever.
- The match will be Nigeria’s 89th match in Africa Cup of Nations’ history. The Super Eagles have won 47 of the preceding 88 matches; lost 19 drew 22 and had scored 122 goals, conceding 84.
- The match will be the 32nd for Gernot Rohr as Nigeria’s manager.
- Gernot Rohr will be lining out a team against the country of his wife who is from Madagascar.
- Guinea provides a common denominator for both teams. While Nigeria beat Guinea, 1-0, Madagascar was forced to a 2-2 draw by Guinea.
- In beating Guinea on Wednesday, Rohr had his ‘Pound of Flesh’. He was shortlisted for the Guinea national team job in July 2016, but was not given the job, which was offered, to Paul Put. He not only beat the team that refused him, he showed he is better than Paul Put.
- A draw by both Nigeria and Madagascar will see both teams through as first and second respectively from the group. But a win by Madagascar, will alter the ranking, even though, both will still qualify.
- The Sunday match is Nigeria’s third group game in the current competition. Nigeria has never lost a third match in the Africa Cup of Nations since the 3-0 loss to Zambia in 1982. The worse results since had been the 0-0 to Algeria 1n 1984 and similar score line with Egypt in 1988.
- A win for Nigeria on Sunday makes it the first time Super Eagles will secure 100% record in Africa Cup of Nations’ group stage involving three matches.
- If fielded, Ahmed Musa who had his 80th cap in the match against Guinea, will be 19 games to clocking the milestone 100th cap.
- If fielded, Mikel Obi will be having his 89th cap, 11 more to get enlisted in the famed ‘Century Club’.
- Madagascar were close to recording an upset in duel with Nigeria 40 years ago when Bendel Insurance of Nigeria and AS Sotema clashed in the then African Winners’ Cup, now merged with CAF Cup and renamed CAF Confederation Cup. Bendel Insurance won the first leg in match of the quarterfinals 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.
- Also another Benin City team, Bendel United beat Madagascar’s FC BFV 4-1 in the semifinals of the African Cup Winners Cup 30 years ago and forced a goalless draw in Madagascar.
- Like most national football team in Africa, Madagascar’s team has a nickname. The team is called Barea, a specie of humped cattle which part of the country’s coat of arm.
- Madagascar conceded eight goals in 2019 AFCON qualifying; more than any other team that qualified for the tournament.
- Madagascar were the first team to qualify and for the first time, doing so with two matches to spare, after a lone goal victory over Equatorial Guinea last October in Antananarivo. Njiva Rakotoharimalala’s first half strike was all Nicolas Dupuis’ charges needed to achieve the biggest moment in their football history.
- This will be the fifth encounter of Madagascar and Nigeria at national team level. In the previous four matches, Madagascar has never scored a goal against the Super Eagles and had conceded five.
NIGERIA-MADAGASCAR HEAD-TO-HEAD
P W D L GF GA
Nigeria 4 3 1 0 5 0
Madagascar 4 0 1 3 0 5
- 7 Oct. 2000 (Afconq) Madagascar 0-0 Nigeria
- 2 June 2001 (Afconq) Nigeria 1-0 Madagascar
- 5 Sept. 2010(Afconq) Nigeria 2-0 Madagascar
- 3 Sept. 2011(Afconq) Madagascar 0-2 Nigeria
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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