London’s iconic Piccadilly Circus was transformed into a celebration of African pride and Nigerian flair as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) launched the Diaspora Tour for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025.

The high-energy event drew African football legends, global fans and celebrities, with Nigeria’s own Alex Iwobi and music sensation Odumodublvck taking centre stage in a gathering designed to connect Africa’s football heritage with its vast diaspora.

The London stop is the first leg of a two-city tour that continues next week in Paris. The French capital will host events on December 3 and 4, including an opening ceremony at Palais de Tokyo, Yoyo, where the original AFCON Trophy will be on full display before returning to Morocco for the official Trophy Tour.

Nigeria’s Influence Felt Throughout the Event

Iwobi, one of the Premier League’s most prominent African players, was widely cheered as he mingled with fans at Piccadilly Circus, embodying the pride of the Super Eagles ahead of AFCON 2025.

Odumodublvck, riding the wave of his global hit “Declan Rice,” represented Nigeria on the cultural front, adding to the festival-like atmosphere that blended music, football and diaspora identity.

Former Arsenal Vice-Chairman David Dein, a long-time supporter of African football and a close friend of several Nigerian players, described the AFCON Morocco 2025 era as “a special moment” for the continent.

“African football is special; it is full of passion because Africans are full of passion,” Dein said. “This event here in London has been a great success and a good advertisement for African football.”

Cameroon legend Alex Song, who enjoyed a cult following among Arsenal’s Nigerian fans during his playing days, said seeing Africans gather in London to celebrate the continent’s game was inspiring.

“We have always known African football is amazing, but now we are exporting this to the rest of the world to see,” he said.

A Celebration of Diaspora Identity

Ghanaian superstar Stonebwoyelectrified Thursday night’s reception with a performance that lit up the venue packed with international media, CAF partners and sponsors. Alongside Odumodublvck, his presence underscored the growing influence of African music in global culture.

CAF officials say the Tour is more than a promotional effort — it is a tribute to the unbreakable bond between African football and its global diaspora. Each stop reinforces the shared pride that spans continents, from Lagos to London, Accra to Paris.

With Nigeria expected to be one of the headline contenders when AFCON kicks off in Morocco next December, the Diaspora Tour has offered a timely reminder of the continent’s unity and the Nigerians abroad who continue to fly the flag proudly.

The road now leads to Paris — before the AFCON Trophy returns to Africa, where the dreams of millions of fans, especially Nigerians, are already building toward 2025.

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Nigerian football fans can look forward to a fully inclusive AFCON viewing experience this December, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and New World Televisions (NWTV) have confirmed that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 will be broadcast free-to-air nationwide.

The announcement ensures that every Super Eagles match—including all fixtures in Group C—will be available live to millions of households across the country.

AfroSport, Nigeria’s leading free-to-air (FTA) sports platform, has once again secured the FTA rights, marking a historic third consecutive AFCON broadcast after delivering the 2022 and 2024 editions to audiences nationwide.

With more than 33 million TV homes relying on terrestrial broadcasting, FTA television remains the most powerful and accessible medium in the country—reaching urban centres, rural communities and remote villages alike.

 AfroSport’s involvement guarantees that AFCON 2025 will continue to be a national event shared by Nigerians of all backgrounds, regardless of income or access to pay-TV services.

The broadcasts will be delivered through the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) network, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as national broadcaster, and AfroSport’s growing roster of FTA affiliates.

Chief Consultant Akintunde-Johnson Bada, announcing the partnership, said Nigeria’s FTA platform remains the heartbeat of mass football consumption.

“We are proud to once again receive CAF’s trust and to deliver this most important event to every Nigerian home,” Bada said.

 “AFCON 2025 arrives at a critical moment for Nigerian football, and we all hope our boys can go one better than they did in Ivory Coast two years ago. AfroSport is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian can be part of this journey.”

NWTV Managing Director Nimonka Kolani said the partnership was made possible through CAF’s leadership.

“By securing the AFCON 2025 Free-to-Air rights, AfroSport guarantees that all Nigerians will be able to follow their heroes in Morocco,” Kolani said. “CAF, under Dr. Patrice Motsepe, continues to bring joy to millions of football fans across Nigeria.”

A Christmas Football Festival

AFCON 2025 will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, making it one of the rare editions to be staged during the Christmas and New Year period. Morocco, building on its reputation as an emerging football powerhouse, will host matches across six cities.

The opening match on 21 December will feature hosts Morocco vs Comoros.

Nigeria will launch its Group C campaign on 23 December against Tanzania, before taking on Tunisia on 27 December and Uganda on 30 December.

All Super Eagles matches—and every other tournament fixture—will be broadcast live and free across Nigeria.

With the unmatched reach of free-to-air broadcasting and AfroSport’s leadership, AFCON 2025 promises to unite the nation once again—live, free, and everywhere.

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By Kunle Solaja.

Despite a surge in demand that has pushed several high-profile fixtures to sold-out status, match tickets for Nigeria’s group-stage games at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are still available, offering Super Eagles supporters a crucial window to secure their seats ahead of the tournament in Morocco.

More than 800,000 tickets have already been snapped up for AFCON 2025, scheduled for December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026, according to Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) president Fouzi Lekjaa.

He revealed the figures on Wednesday, November 26, during a briefing at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora.

Lekjaa confirmed that several fixtures involving the hosts Morocco, defending champions Cote D’Ivoire, Algeria, Cameroon, and Senegal are already sold out, with tickets disappearing rapidly during the CAF sales phases.

Morocco and Algeria matches, in particular, sold out completely as soon as Phase 3 opened on November 15.

However, unlike these heavyweights, Nigeria’s group-stage matches still have available tickets, giving fans—both at home and across the diaspora—a chance to attend the Super Eagles’ games live.

How to Buy Tickets

CAF has made it mandatory for all fans to obtain a Fan ID before purchasing tickets.
The Fan ID:

• serves as a unique identifier for stadium and fan-zone access, simplifies visa procedures for international visitors, and allows the purchase of one ticket per match.

All ticket purchases must be made exclusively through the Yalla app, CAF’s official ticketing platform.

Tournament Overview

AFCON 2025 will take place across nine stadiumsinsix Moroccan cities:
Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir, Marrakech, Tangier and Fez.

With Nigeria aiming for a strong showing under a new competitive format and with supporters eager to paint the stands green and white, officials are urging fans to begin the Fan ID process early and secure the remaining tickets before they sell out.

For now, Super Eagles supporters still have an open window—but with sales approaching the million mark, it may not stay open for long.

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