AFCON
CAF SHOCKED OVER EGYPT’S MISSING TROPHIES
According to Egyptian newspaper, Ahram, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed its dismay over the disappearance of a number of old trophies from the Egyptian Football Association.
On Friday, the EFA announced that it had discovered the disappearance of some old trophies from its stores, affirming that it will investigate to locate them.
“The CAF has learned with shock reports about missing AFCON trophies from the Egyptian Football Association secretariat. Our doors are open and the EFA can count on our support in the search for the priceless memorabilia,” the CAF said in a statement on Sunday.
According to media reports, the original African Cup of Nations trophies that the Pharaohs won in 2006, 2008, 2010 are among the missing trophies.
The EFA discovered the trophies’ disappearance during their preparations to develop the association’s headquarters and to organise a trophy display while celebrating 100 years since the EFA’s establishment.
Sports ministry joins investigation
Egypt’s Sports Minister Ashraf Sobhy announced that there will be a ministerial committee arriving at the EFA headquarters to join the investigation into the disappearance of the old trophies.
“We will release a statement about the investigation soon,” Sobhy told a television programme late on Saturday.
The EFA said that it is looking into the possibility that the old trophies were lost when the building was looted and set on fire in 2013 when the Ultras fan group stormed the headquarters.
Egyptian football icons deny accusations
Former EFA board member Magdi Abdel-Ghani has said that the trophies disappeared in 2012 or 2013 when a number of Ultras members stormed the headquarters and set fire to the building.
“Ask Shawki Gharib [the assistant coach of Egypt’s national team at that time], as he was part of winning these trophies and he is also aware of managerial matters,” the former EFA board member told a television programme.
“I am like all the fans; I don’t know where the trophies have disappeared. I have heard before that there is one cup with Gharib and another with Ahmed Hassan, but I am not accusing anyone,” Abdel-Ghani said.
Meanwhile, former skipper of Egypt’s national team Ahmed Hassan has dismissed Abdel-Ghani’s statements linking him to the disappearance, saying that he returned the 2010 trophy to the EFA headquarters after removing it to take photos with the cup alongside his teammates and members of the team’s technical staff.
“As a captain of the Egyptian national team in the 2010 tournament, I took the trophy to take a photo alongside a number of the team’s players and the technical staff at the time,” Hassan told reporters after the EFA announced that the trophies had disappeared.
“But I handed it to the EFA officials with documentation,” Hassan added.
“I would not have returned it to the EFA if I had known it would disappear,” Hassan said.
National team assistant coach Shawki Gharib has also dismissed reports linking him with the disappearance, saying “this is nonsense that does not deserve a response.”
“I call on the person who has the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations trophy to return it and we will give him a replica of this cup, as it is part of Egypt’s sporting heritage and cannot be replicated,” Gharib said.
Egypt received the AFCON trophy, which is made of gold, after claiming the title for the third time in 2010 edition.
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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