AFCON
AFCON 2021 QUALIFIERS: COMOROS ISLANDS SHOCK TOGO IN LOME
What Nigeria could not do with Togo in the African Nations Championship qualifiers, lesser known Comoros Island have done it in the qualifying series of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying (CHAN) series.
It will be recalled that Togo beat Nigeria 4-1 in Lome in the CHAN qualfiers and later 2-1 in a WAFU Cup encounter in Senegal.
Comoros took the surprise lead on top of Group G for the Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 qualifiers after shocking Togo 1-0 in Lome on match day one. The islanders who are ranked at position 142 on the FIFA rankings were not the favorites especially away from home.
But they were not keen on keeping to the narrative as they gave in a superb fight, Faiz Selemani scoring six minutes after the break, a lead they held on to for the remaining 41 minutes of the game.
The victory now earns them massive confidence ahead of the second match day on Monday when they take on Egypt at home.
The Egyptians were meanwhile held to a 1-1 draw by Kenya’s Harambee Stars in the other Group B match in Alexandria. Mahmoud Kahraba scored the opener for the Egyptians in the opening half, but Kenya equalized in the second half through Michael Olunga.
Kenya were unfortunate as they had to make two injury enforced changes in the first half. Keeper Patrick Matasi was substituted after just nine minutes when he picked up a knee injury as he took a goalkick.
They were later forced to pull out Ayub Timbe after he also picked up a knee injury and was replaced by Cliff Nyakeya. Timbe had Kenya’s best chance of the game when he took on a brilliant solo run but his shot from inside the box was saved by the keeper.
Olunga had another chance when he shot from inside the box after dummying two defenders but the effort was straight to the keeper.
Egypt broke the deadlock in the 41st minute when Kahraba raced to a short backpass from defender Eric Ouma to substitute keeper Ian Otieno, blocking his first clearance before tapping into an empty net.
But Kenya were unfazed and in the second half, with an improved performance to try and get back into contention. And they did just so after 61 minutes when Cliff Nyakeya did well to win the ball inside the box before teeing up Olunga who fired home.
Egypt almost got back into the lead in the 78th minute when Otieno spilled a scorcher from Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan, but the ball amazingly did not cross the line with Joseph Okumu clearing. The spills fell on Kahraba whose shot was blocked again by Samuel Olwande.
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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