AFCON
NIGERIA V CAMEROON: FAMILIAR FOES CONTEST AFCON 2019 QUARTER FINAL TICKET
BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE
One of the two perennial rivals in the continent will bow out of Egypt 2019 this evening. Nigerians are hoping the victims would be the defending champions, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
In the quarterfinal pairings of the ongoing tournament, Nigeria versus Cameroon is the second most frequent in AFCON history, next to Ghana against Tunisia.
This is the seventh head-to-head clashes between the neighbours while Ghana and Tunisia will be going after each others jugular for the eighth time on Monday.
Cameroon won the first three of their five African titles beating Nigeria in the final on each occasion – 1984 in Abidjan, 1988 in Rabat and 2000 in Lagos.
But the most painful and unforgettable of Cameroon’s triumphs over their neighbours was right in front of 60,000 vibrant fans when Nigeria co-hosted the 22nd AFCON with Ghana
In the epic final at the National Stadium in Surulere, the Lions silenced the home crowd within the first 31 minutes with goals by Patrick M’Boma and Samuel Eto’o Fils.
But Raphael Ndukwe Chukwu, then a striker with South African club Mamelodi Sundowns got one back on the dot of 45 minutes while Austin JayJay Okocha levelled up two minutes after the restart. In the ensuing penalty shootouts that followed the deadlock, Nigeria lost 3-4 with the penalty miss of Victor Nosa Ikpeba the most agonising.
Perhaps if VAR had then been introduced and applied, that goal would have stood and Nigeria would have lifted the trophy.
Nigeria had their own pound of flesh in Senegal 1992 beating Cameroon 2-1 to win the bronze medal and also in the quarterfinal of Tunisia 2004 winning 2-1.
Both sides settled for 1-1 at the group stage before meeting in the final of Morocco 1988.
Since that year 2000 agonising episode, the Indomitable Lions have never had the upper hand over the Super Eagles.
Most recently, Nigeria walloped their rivals 4-0 on September 1, 2017 and forced 1-1 in Yaounde three days later on their way to 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
In 22 previous encounters, Cameroon have prevailed only four times, three of them most significant.
In Egypt 2019, Nigeria and Cameroon have failed to live up to their pre-tournament ratings.
The Super Eagles struggled to lone goal victories over Burundi and Guinea and then got shamed 0-2 by Madagascar to finish second in a group they were expected to dominate.
Cameroon, on their part, managed to deliver two second half goals to overcome Guinea-Bissau in their opening match. They then suffered goal drought playing goalless against Ghana and Benin Republic and ending up as runners-up in Group F.
Having not scored in their respective last match, Nigeria and Cameroon have to either rediscover their way to the net or go through the agony of penalty shootouts.
Later in the day, hosts Egypt will be challenged by South Africa, one of the third placed teams at the group stage.
Both sides have met only twice in AFCON with the Pharaohs winning both. At the group stage of South Africa 1996, Egypt did not spare their hosts and won 1-0.
By that time however, the Bafana Bafana had already qualified for the knockout stages as Group A winners having defeated Cameroon (3-0) and Angola (1-0), and would later travel all the way to win the title.
Egypt denied South Africa a successful defence of that title in Burkina Faso 1998 as they won 2-0 in the final.
In all meetings however, South Africa have the advantage over Egypt winning six and drawing one in 11 competitive and friendly clashes.
In Egypt 2019, the hosted finished the group stage unblemished. With no goal conceded and three wins out of three matches, they landed in the last 16 ahead of their final first round game; prolific striker Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan delivering.
RELATED STORIES : https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2019/07/06/it-is-a-battle-of-equals-says-cameroon-goalkeeper-onana/
On the contrary, South Africa did not have a single goal attempt in defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and Morocco in Group D while they beat neighbours Namibia by their only goal of Egypt 2019.
The winners of these matches will square up in the quarterfinals.
The Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) has kicked off a European promotional tour themed “Morocco, Land of Football” to boost the country’s visibility ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The roadshow, which began on June 16 and runs through June 23, is making stops in five key European cities: Madrid, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Milan.
According to a press release, the initiative is designed to enhance Morocco’s international profile through a blend of sports and cultural promotion, as the kingdom prepares to host the continent’s premier football tournament.
“Morocco is preparing to welcome Africa. Through this roadshow, we aim to tell a collective story of a country oriented towards the future, proud of its roots, and passionate about football,” said Achraf Fayda, Director General of ONMT.
The roadshow stems from a strategic partnership signed in April between the ONMT and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), with the shared goal of positioning Morocco as a leading global destination for both football and tourism by 2030.
At each stop, the tour is expected to engage over 100 travel agents, tour operators, media professionals, and African tourism experts. Participants are treated to immersive, multisensory experiences that highlight Morocco’s tourism offerings, while also facilitating networking with sports personalities.
The campaign targets travel professionals, sports industry stakeholders, and digital content creators as part of ONMT’s broader strategy to leverage AFCON 2025 for tourism development and international branding.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The African Football Confederation (CAF) and Royal Air Maroc (RAM) have sealed a historic strategic partnership that grants Morocco’s national airline the status of “Official Global Partner” for upcoming major African football competitions.
The agreement was signed Saturday morning in Casablanca, in the presence of Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President Fouzi Lekjaâ.
This partnership encompasses several prestigious tournaments, including the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco (AFCON) 2025 (December 21, 2025 – January 18, 2026) and CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco (WAFCON) 2024 (July 5-26, 2025).
The agreement also covers CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, CAF Champions League 2024/2025 Finals, CAF Confederation Cup 2024/2025 Finals, and the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe voiced enthusiasm about the collaboration.
“We are excited about the partnership between CAF and Royal Air Maroc, a world-class airline that will provide comfort and fly NationalTeams participating in the CAF competitions,” he said.
“We are confident that the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will be the most successful AFCON in the history of this competition.”
The agreement strengthens RAM’s footprint across Africa and globally, solidifying its role as a strategic gateway between Africa and the rest of the world. It also aligns with Morocco’s emergence as an international sports hub, with the country preparing to host AFCON 2025 and co-host the FIFA World Cup 2030.
RAM’s Chairman and CEO Hamid Addou stated: “This historic partnership with CAF aligns fully with our strategic vision as an airline deeply rooted in Africa and committed to its development.”
“Royal Air Maroc doesn’t just connect destinations; it builds bridges between cultures and passions. By supporting the continent’s biggest football competitions, we reaffirm our role as a facilitator of human and sporting exchanges,” he continued.
500,000 supporters expected
Beyond its partnership role, RAM will implement an exceptional operational system to meet increased demand during CAF competitions. The airline plans to welcome over 500,000 supporters for AFCON 2025.
“We believe we will surpass this figure by far,” revealed Addou. “We will be ready to accommodate these supporters across Royal Air Maroc’s entire network.”
The airline intends to double seat capacity from qualified countries already served by RAM, such as Dakar, Abidjan, Cairo, Tunis, Bamako, Lagos, and Douala.
RAM will also intensify flight frequencies from European cities with large African communities, including Paris, Brussels, Milan, London, Marseille, Lyon, Madrid, and Barcelona.
Additionally, the airline will establish a dedicated program for domestic air transport of national teams, shuttling them between their base camps and host cities.
This positioning establishes RAM as the primary connector between Africa and Europe through its Casablanca hub. FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaâ noted that the contract “reinforces Royal Air Maroc’s first-rate leadership role in Africa.”
“Royal Air Maroc is no stranger to football,” Lekjaâ added. “It has always supported generations of our athletes and footballers here in Morocco.”
“With this expertise and experience, they will contribute significantly to making AFCON 2025 Morocco exceptional, a historic turning point in African football, cultural coexistence and African cultural exchange,” he concluded.
Addou stressed RAM’s commitment to African unity: “We are all extremely proud to be African, and in every corner of this vast and magnificent continent, we share the same ambition—to actively contribute to Africa’s development and influence.”
The RAM CEO concluded by inviting everyone to upcoming CAF calendar events: “We’ll see you very soon for the great moments ahead in the CAF calendar, particularly the Women’s AFCON starting in July and, of course, the men’s AFCON, which kicks off on December 25.”
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The presidents of the regional councils concerned by the hosting of the matches of the Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco-2025) unanimously affirmed that the implementation of infrastructure projects in anticipation of this continental event “is progressing at a sustained pace”, declaring themselves “fully mobilized” to crown with success the major sporting events scheduled in the Kingdom.
They specified, in statements to the press in Rabat following a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior devoted to the assessment of the progress of the construction and rehabilitation works of the stadiums, that major sports infrastructure projects are underway in the six host cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Fez, Marrakech and Agadir.
The President of the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council, Abdellatif Maâzouz, announced that the projects planned for upcoming international sporting events, in particular the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, “are proceeding under good conditions.”
The projects related to the organisation of the AFCON will be ready by next July at the latest, he assured, specifying that there is a clear vision regarding the preparations underway for the AFCON and the 2030 World Cup, both in terms of equipment and organisational arrangements related to human resources and animation.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- OBITUARY3 days ago
BREAKING: Nigerian Goalkeeping Legend Peter Rufai is dead
- Nigerian Football2 days ago
Football Agent John Shittu Demands Retraction and ₦250 Million Damages from Samson Siasia Over Bribery Allegation
- WAFCON1 week ago
Super Falcons Land in Morocco, Eye Historic ‘La Decima’ Women’s AFCON Title
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Kwara United Clinch Historic First Title as President Federation Cup Final Goes to Penalties for the 18th time
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Rivers Angels Crowned 2025 Female Federation Cup Champions After Penalty Shootout Thriller
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Peter Rufai looked lean when I last saw him, says mourning NFF President, Gusau
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Family issues statement on Peter Rufai
- IMMEMORIAL2 days ago
Peter Rufai’s Death Adds to Long List of July Tragedies in Nigerian Football