AFCON
NIGERIA, ROHR EXPERIENCE SWEET AND BITTERNESS OF DYNAMIC DYING MINUTE GOALS AT AFCON
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
At the post match press conference beamed into Nigerian tubes, Gernot Rohr, the Nigerian coach struggled within himself to conceal the bitterness of conceding a last minute winning goal – a big blow to which you have to chance of responding.
At the previous match with South Africa, he was beaming with infectious smiles. But on Sunday, he tasted the bitter pill forced the throat of Stuart Baxter, the South African coach.
He admitted that his boys were probably playing to see the match extend to extra time and possibly wear out the Algerians whose last match extended far beyond regulation time.
Alas, it was not to be. Even the Algerians did not show any element of fatigue despite having to play a day short of the rest time that the Super Eagles had.
“Algeria could be tired in extra time and we could win it. We are sad that we lost of course, but congratulations to Algeria. “We won the last game against South Africa late and today we lost. That is football.”
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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CAF is promising the “most connected AFCON ever” with the launch of the Yalla App on September 25, 2025, alongside the start of ticket sales for AFCON Morocco 2025.
The Yalla App will serve as the one-stop digital hub for fans, doubling as the portal for Fan IDs, which will be required for stadium and fan zone access.
It also introduces a groundbreaking E-Visa feature, allowing supporters from around the globe to apply digitally for travel documents tied directly to their match tickets.
Fans will also receive real-time updates, tailored content, and exclusive tournament information through the platform.
With this innovation, CAF and the LOC are positioning Morocco 2025 as a modern, tech-driven tournament, designed to enhance both local and international fan experiences.
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With exactly 100 days to the kick-off of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 on Friday, the Confédération of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) have unveiled the ticketing process for Africa’s biggest football festival.
Fans can begin registering online at tickets.cafonline.com from September 12–24 to receive notifications ahead of the official sales opening.
According to a news report by CAF, tickets will officially go on sale on September 25, with Visa cardholders enjoying a 48-hour exclusive pre-sale window from 12h00 Moroccan time on September 25 to 27.
The general public sale will then open on September 27 at 14h00.
The ticketing programme will run in three phases, with allocations gradually expanding from 30% of stadium capacity in the first two phases to full access in the third phase starting November 21.
CAF also announced that a new partner for Hospitality Packages will be revealed on Monday, September 15.
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