AFCON
REMEMBERING MUDA LAWAL AND DAN ANYIAM: THE CAMEROON CONNECTION
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It’s 28 years today since Nigeria’s mercurial midfielder, Muda Lawal passed on. It is also 41 years also that another former Nigerian skipper, Dan Anyiam also died.
Both notable Nigerian footballers shared common attributes apart from passing on July 6 dates. They were captains of the football teams.
Sports Village Square recalls that Anyiam, a pioneer member of Nigerian national team 70 years ago was also the first Nigerian indigenous national team coach.
He was a member of the coaching crew on December 8, 1962 when Nigeria first met Cameroon in Lagos. Nigeria won 3-1 and also inflicted another 2-1 defeat on Cameroon in Yaoundé in the Kwame Nkrumah Cup.
So Nigeria maintained an unbeaten eight-match run across all competitions and in all venues till the final match of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
There is a mystery in goals scored by Muda Lawal. Each time he scored, no member of his team scored again in that match.
Invariably, his goals were always the last for his team. So it was on March 18, 1984 when he opened scoring in the Africa Cup of Nations’ final match with Cameroon.
It was Nigeria’s only goal in the match lost by 3-1. In his 86 matches, Muda scored 10 times. The exception is the opening goal of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations which was wrongly credited to him. Video clips show it was scored by Aloysius Atuegbu.
In instances Muda scored, they were the last goals for Nigeria. Consider the following: He first scored for Nigeria on March 9, 1976 against Guinea in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; it was Nigeria’s only goal at the match in which Guinea scored a last minute equalizer.
His next goal was against Egypt, it was the winning goal of the March 14, 1976 match.
When he scored two years later on July 14 against Mali at the 3rd All Africa Games in Algeria, it was the last goal of the encounter which Nigeria won 3-1. Again his goal against Malawi on July 25, 1978 was Nigeria’s last in the match.
Muda also scored the last goal in the 5-0 defeat of Benin Republic in a friendly match of November 9, 1979 in Lagos just as his goal was the last in the 3-0 defeat of Algeria at the 1980 Africa Cup final.
When he opened scoring against Tanzania in a World Cup qualifying match on December 6, 1980 in Lagos, it turned to be Nigeria’s last goal of the match that ended in 1-1 draw.
RELATED STORIES: https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2017/07/06/muda-lawal-remembering-nigerias-first-football-ambassador/
On October 3, 1981, Nigeria beat Liberia 3-0 in a friendly match. The last two goals were scored by Muda. So, when he scored early in the 1984 Africa Cup final match against Cameroon little wonder, no other Nigerian player could score in the game Nigeria lost 3-1.
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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