AFCON
ORIGINAL AFCON TROPHY STOLEN IN EGYPT
The original Africa Cup of Nations’ trophy which replaced the one first won by Nigeria in 1980 has been declared ‘missing’ if not stolen.
The 1980 edition of the trophy was awarded definitively to Cameroon after their third triumph in Lagos in 2000 and another trophy was put at stake at Mali 2002 which incidentally was also won by Cameroon.
The new trophy was won by Tunisia in 2004 and Egypt in 2006 – both on home soil. Egypt again won in 2008 and 2010 and thus had the eternal possession of the trophy.
According to Egyptian newspaper, Ahram, the Egypt FA this Friday announced that it discovered the original trophy was missing along with some other silverwares.
Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced on Friday the disappear of some of old trophies from the Association’s stores, confirming they will probe on the situation to determine the trophies fate.
“As the Egyptian Football Association are currently developing the main headquarter of the association including changing the building’s entrance to a small museum for Egyptian football, the management was shocked by the disappearance of some old trophies from the Association’s store,” read a statement by the EFA on Friday.
“The EFA was preparing to use those lost trophies to be part of the association’s development by showing them on the building’s entrance,”
“The EFA are now investigating on the trophies disappearance to make sure that those old trophies were saved after the building was burned and stolen in 2013 when Ultras Groups invaded the headquarter or they were part of the losses that resulted from what the building was exposed to in this incident,” the statement added.
Reports in the Egyptian media claimed that the original trophy of the African Cup of Nations, that the Pharaohs won following the unprecented treble in 2006, 2008, 2010, is among the disappeared trophies.
The Egyptian FA discovered the trophies disappearance during their preparations to develop the association’s headquarter as well as organizing a show of trophies while celebrating 100 years on the EFA’s establishment.
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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