AFCON
SUPER EAGLES’ DOORS SHUT AGAINST ARSENAL’S KID, BUKAYO SAKA
Following the spate of last minute change of mind of previous Nigerians of foreign descents, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr may have ruled out the possibility of Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka joining the Super Eagles ahead of the busy qualifying matches next year.
According to ThisdaySports neither the top echelon in the NFF nor the Franco/German tactician, Gernot Rohr, is interested in the latest romance with another Nigerian player abroad apparently due to the embarrassment the moves had caused the federation in the past.
The report has it that a top ranking backroom staff to the Super Eagles said that Saka’s chances of making it to the Super Eagles are slim as the NFF is not keen on moving for him.
The staff reportedly confided with the Opera news that although there could be moves for the winger in the future, the general feelings among the chieftains including coach Gernot Rohr is that he should be allowed to continue his development at Arsenal as it would be too early to rush him into international football.
’’There are so many players of Nigerian descent that we are looking at and Saka is one of them.
“However, a move for Arsenal starlet is not the priority now because we have some players in the team who are also technically gifted. With due respect to Saka, players like Samuel Chukwueze, Samuel Kalu and even Moses Simon who are playing same roles as him are doing well now.
“It is hard to believe that the Arsenal player is better than them. He’s still young; he still has plenty of time and Rohr really likes him but he feels it is not time to bring him in,” the staff remarked.
Earlier in the week, Saka had given hints regarding his desire to play his international football for Nigeria despite featuring for England at the junior levels.
The starlet who broke into the Gunners first team this season is hoping he can follow in the footsteps of Alex Iwobi who pledged his allegiance to the country of his parents and became a mainstay of the Nigerian team.
However, the 19-year-old said in a recent interview that Nigeria was yet to contact him on the possibility of changing his nationality and our correspondent reliably learnt that the NFF would not make a move for him now because eggheads at the Glasshouse believe the winger is not ripe enough for the Eagles.
Recently, the duo of Chelsea teenage stars, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori are on the watch list of NFF boss, Amaju Pinnick and was in contact with their parents but both players changed their mind in the last minutes and joined the Three Lions of England.
Many more players are on the watch list of NFF except the the federation will not want to face the public embarrassment in the event the players chose to play for their preferred country of growth.
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong says Nigeria will head to Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations determined to go one step further after the heartbreak of losing the last final to Côte d’Ivoire.
In an exclusive chat with CAFOnline.com, the Al-Kholood defender said the experience of falling short in Abidjan has made the team tougher and more united.
“Last AFCON left a lasting impression on all of us,” Troost-Ekong said. “This group is excited to have another chance to try and win the trophy. We learned so much from that final—this time we’ll be calmer and play our football better.”
The Saudi Arabia-based centre-back downplayed talk of Nigeria being clear favourites, noting that hosts Morocco, defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal are equally strong contenders.
“There’s no such thing as a clear favourite at AFCON,” he warned. “You can’t win a tournament with expectations. AFCON is difficult and full of surprises.”
Troost-Ekong, who has appeared in multiple AFCON campaigns, said the key to winning lies in “heart, togetherness and consistency.”
“Momentum has to grow through the tournament. Don’t panic when things go wrong, and don’t get carried away when they go right,” he added.
On Nigeria’s group opponents—Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania—the skipper admitted the road to the knockout stages won’t be easy.
“Tunisia knocked us out in 2021. Uganda and Tanzania are improving fast. There’s no easy game at AFCON,” he said.
Troost-Ekong also saluted Nigerian fans for their support and promised the team would give everything to bring home the title.
“When all of Nigeria stands together, that’s our power,” he declared. “Hopefully, the headline this time will read: Nigeria crowns the special generation with an AFCON title.”
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Super Eagles for their impressive performance in the 4–0 victory over Benin Republic, praising the team for keeping Nigeria’s qualification hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Adebayo Onanuga, the President lauded the players for their “hunger, passion, and determination” during the crucial qualifier in Uyo, describing their display as one that has “reignited Nigerians’ football pride.”
“While the job is not yet complete, I join millions of Nigerian football fans in wishing our team every success in the playoffs,” Tinubu said. “The mood across the country reflects a shared belief that Nigeria deserves a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada, Mexico, and the United States will host.”
Reaffirming the government’s backing, President Tinubu assured the players and coaching crew of full Federal Government support as they prepare for the decisive play-off stage.
“Nigerians everywhere believe in you, and I do too,” he said. “We look forward to seeing you fly our flag proudly on the world stage.”
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The Organizing Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 has announced a strong start to ticket sales, confirming that 58,000 tickets had been sold as of Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
According to an official update, the enthusiasm for the continental showpiece has also been reflected on the Yalla App, where 145,731 applications have been received so far. In addition, a total of 121,924 FAN IDs have been issued, including 31,058 belonging to foreign nationals representing 108 countries around the world.
In response to the overwhelming demand, the committee disclosed that technical teams are working round the clock to enhance the ticketing and FAN ID systems to ensure smooth processing for fans.
To assist applicants and ensure better communication, the organizers have provided a dedicated customer service line: +212 5 30 30 20 30. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in Arabic, English, and French, and is staffed by over 600 agents trained to respond to inquiries and provide user support.
Fans can also reach the support team via email at info@yallamorocco.ma.
The Organizing Committee expressed gratitude to supporters, media representatives, delegations, and partners for their enthusiasm and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a seamless and memorable experience for all stakeholders during AFCON Morocco 2025.
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