AFCON
FORM BOOKS GIVE NIGERIA THE EDGE OVER ALGERIA
Algeria will have to turn the form book upside down if they are to overcome Nigeria in their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on Sunday, having not beaten the Super Eagles on the pitch for nearly 30 years.
In the other match Senegal, aiming to win the tournament for the first time, meet a Tunisia side appearing to pick up momentum at the right time.
Algeria twice beat Nigeria at the 1990 tournament — 5-1 in the group stage and 1-0 in the final — on the only occasion that they won the title.
Three-times champions Nigeria have won seven and drawn two of their seven meetings since then although in their very last match — a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in 2017 — the result was subsequently overturned because Nigeria fielded Abdullahi Shehu when he was suspended.
A 3-0 walkover win was awarded to Algeria although it was academic as Nigeria had already qualified for the World Cup.
“If we manage to achieve success here, we will go down in history,” Nigeria forward Alex Iwobi told the BBC. “I know it’s always been our childhood dream to win as many competitions as we can.”
Algeria are in their seventh Afcon semi-final, their first since 2010, and have looked one of the most solid teams, although some chinks were exposed by Ivory Coast in the quarter-final which went to a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
“We have a team of warriors and we must seize our chance to win this tournament,” said Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez. “Before starting the tournament our goal was to reach the semi-finals, but now we want to win this Afcon title”.
Senegal have reached the semi-finals for the first time for 13 years although they had to work hard for 1-0 victories over outsiders Uganda and Benin in the knockout stages.
Throughout the tournament, coach Aliou Cisse — who played in the side beaten by Cameroon in the 2002 final — has battled against the idea that his team are the title favourites.
“I want to congratulate my players for the heroic match as well as the qualification that is deserved for us,” he said after they beat Benin.
“Since 2006, Senegal has not reached the semi-finals of the AFCON, which proves that we are working to become the best.”
Tunisia, meanwhile, drew all three of their group stage matches and then beat Ghana on penalties in the round of 16 after another draw, before beating Madagascar 3-0 in the quarter-finals.
It is their seventh semi-final although their first since 2004 when they won the tournament for the only time.
“After three difficult matches in the first round, we gained momentum in the knockout stages. The bottom line for us now is qualifying in the semi-finals, 15 years since we last did that,” said midfielder Ferjani Sassi.
-REUTERS
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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