AFCON
VIDEO: ETO’O PAYS GLOWING TRIBUTES TO HIS HOME TOWN IN A CNN DOCUMENTARY
In a CNN special airing Samuel Eto’o, who is often regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time, invited the global network on a rare trip to his hometown of Douala, Cameroon.
CNN’s African Voices Changemakers accompanied Eto’o through the district of New Bell, where he spent formative years in Douala.
Eto’o explained how much his neighbours helped shape his career before he left for Real Madrid at the age of 16.
In the programme, the residents of New Bell formed a human chain around Eto’o as he discussed how he avoided the local prison to instead follow his dream of a career in professional football.
Following his retirement last year, the Cameroonian legend reflected on his many achievements in the game, which included spells at FC Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea. Eto’o also outlined his plans for life after football, including his role in mentoring the next generation of footballers in Cameroon.
Click here to watch the full programme:
Now adapting to his new role off the pitch, Eto’o explained how he is using his fame to help the lives of Douala’s residents. CNN joined Eto’o for a tour of Douala’s largest public hospital, where he has funded a new children’s ward.
Here is excerpts of CNN discussion with Eto’o
Eto’o on returning to his neighbourhood of New Bell in Douala:
“I grew up in the hands of people you saw yesterday. Some are my paternal uncles and others are elders are in the neighbourhood who took care of me in my teens; who would advise me because they felt I had something, and I could get out. It is from here that I left directly to Real Madrid. Directly from here, this is where my life changed. If we go a little further, we will see that the Central Prison is nearby. It seemed more likely that I would end up in that prison.”
Eto’o on retiring from football after more than two decades in the game:
“I felt accomplished. You know I had a very good time, I could still play two seasons, why even three because I was still in shape. But I had already done full circle [sic]; my passion whenever I went to train or went to a match was still intact. But at some point, I asked myself: ‘If I cannot serve football differently, that I can be able to take care of myself and spend more time with my family?’”
Eto’o on what he considers to be the highlight of his career:
“The African who went from nowhere to the top… That is my greatest pride because the success rate for an African in this world is 0.0001%. And from where I started, to get to the point where you are considered one of the biggest in your domain, I tell myself, I am proud, I can walk head held high because I came a long way to get here and I made it.”
Eto’o on seeing his neighbours in Douala for the first time in years:
“The fact that those young children, those grandparents, those parents came out to tell me ‘My son, thank you for dropping by,’ warmed my heart and for me it was also a way to tell them that ‘Even if you do not see me very often, I am here. You are a great part of my life; my body and I’ll always be there for you.’… It is not easy to always have people cheering you. The good fortune that I have is that everywhere I go people have the feeling that I belong to them.”
Eto’o on life after football and the children’s ward he has built at Douala’s Laquintinie Hospital:
“I think that is the purpose of my life. To contribute to the development of our society by helping the state and Cameroonians to have a building where people can come and say: ‘Here we can go home in good health’. I say there is no better goal than that.”
Eto’o on nurturing the next generation of Cameroonian players:
“What I can be today is a mentor. The journey they are about to do – with a lot of luck – we did. So, what we can do today is to give advice and to be beside them, because at this age there are a lot of doubts. At certain periods of their career, there would be doubts, questions and this is where they can rely on us for quick responses to get them out of these doubts.”
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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