One of the Super Eagles’ Group C opponents, Uganda have become the first team to arrive in Morocco ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, touching down in Casablanca on Monday, to continue their final phase of preparations.
The Cranes’ early arrival underlines their determination to make an impression in a group that includes three-time champions Nigeria, North African heavyweights Tunisia, and regional neighbours Tanzania.
Uganda will spend 11 days in Morocco for a closed-camp training programme which includes two tune-up games, according to the Uganda FA, although details of the friendly fixtures are yet to be confirmed.
The East Africans are coached by Belgian tactician Paul Put, whose experience across the continent—having previously handled Burkina Faso, Gambia and Guinea—is seen as a key advantage as they attempt to unsettle more established opponents like the Super Eagles.
Group C matches will be played in Rabat and Fez, with Nigeria and Uganda scheduled to face each other in what could prove decisive in the race for knockout qualification.
Uganda, ranked 85th in the world and 18th in Africa, will be making their eighth AFCON appearance. Their best record remains runners-up finish in 1978, while they reached the quarter-finals in Egypt in 2019. They have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup.
Beyond the senior tournament, the Cranes have enjoyed recent continental milestones, including a first-ever quarter-final appearance at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), and boast 15 CECAFA titles—an all-time regional record.
Nigeria are bidding for a strong start in Morocco following their dramatic run to the AFCON final in Côte d’Ivoire earlier this year. With Uganda already settled into Moroccan territory, the early psychological message is clear: Group C will demand full focus from the Super Eagles from day one.

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By Kunle Solaja.

The high-profile international friendly between Egypt and Nigeria has been shifted to 16 December, following FIFA’s directive delaying the release of Africa Cup of Nations-bound players.

Originally scheduled for 14 December, the fixture was pushed back two days after FIFA confirmed that clubs are only required to release players from 15 December.

The adjustment is meant to ensure the availability of key stars such as Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Manchester City winger Omar Marmoush for the encounter.

The match will bring together two sides carrying contrasting legacies in the Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt hold a record seven continental titles but have not lifted the trophy since 2010. The Pharaohs will compete at Morocco 2025 from Group B, where they face South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria, on the other hand, have built a reputation as Africa’s most consistent podium-finishers. The Super Eagles have claimed third place a record eight times—1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2019—and have finished runners-up on five occasions, in 1984, 1988, 1990, 2000 and 2023.

The December clash is expected to offer an important test for both sides as they sharpen preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

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By Eby Emenike

When the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the list of match officials for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a worrying detail jumped out: Nigeria was nowhere to be found. Not a referee, not an assistant referee, not even a video match official.

For a country that proudly calls itself the “giant of Africa” in football, the omission is more than symbolic. It is alarming.

Nigeria’s last appearance in AFCON officiating dates back to 2006, when Emmanuel Imiere handled a group-stage encounter between Guinea and Zambia in Alexandria. Nineteen years later, a new generation of African referees is emerging—and Nigeria has no seat at the table.

Continental Comparison

The contrast is stark:

• Egypt – 6 officials
• Algeria – 5
• Morocco – 5
• Nigeria – 0

Even smaller football nations such as Benin, Eswatini and São Tomé & Príncipe are represented.

Why Has Nigeria Fallen Behind?

Football insiders point to three interconnected factors.

Training Gaps:
CAF now requires stringent certification, including VAR competence. Nigerian referees have lagged behind these evolving standards, and few have transitioned into the modern refereeing ecosystem.

Governance Failures:
Refereeing development has not featured prominently in Nigeria’s football administration agenda. Without structured national training pathways, Nigerian officials are left out of CAF’s refereeing pipeline.

Systemic Neglect:
Experts argue this is not a case of individuals failing to rise—it is a system that has stopped producing elite match officials.

A Continental Shift—Women Step Forward

While Nigeria sits out, CAF is expanding the horizon of African officiating. The inclusion of female referees and assistants reflects a progressive shift. Names like Uganda’s Shamirah Nabadda, Cameroon’s Carine Fomo, and Zambia’s Diana Chikotesha underline the arrival of women at the heart of the African game.

This is inclusion in real time—and Nigeria is missing from that story too.

What Must Change

Nigeria’s absence at AFCON 2025 should be a call to action. Investment in refereeing development, modernization of training programmes, and a coherent strategy for talent identification are urgently required.

Football is more than players, coaches and goals. It is officiating, governance, and the structures that hold the entire ecosystem together.

Nigeria cannot continue to boast of football greatness if it remains empty-handed each time Africa’s biggest football event calls on the continent’s best officials. The question now is whether Nigerian football authorities will respond—with policy, investment, and vision—or watch quietly from the sidelines.

As Africa takes steps forward, the danger is that Nigeria may be taking steps back.

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