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.
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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Ticket sales for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 will officially open on Monday, 13 October 2025, with an exclusive 48-hour pre-sale window reserved for Visa cardholders, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced.
Fans across Africa and around the world will be able to secure their seats for what promises to be the continent’s biggest football spectacle, which will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
The special Visa pre-sale period will run from Monday, 13 October at 09:00 Moroccan time (08:00 GMT) until Wednesday, 15 October at 08:00 GMT, before general ticket sales open to all fans using other payment methods.
To streamline ticket purchases and enhance security, the Local Organizing Committee has launched the YALLA App, an integrated digital platform for fans to obtain their Fan ID — a mandatory requirement for buying tickets — and apply for E-Visas (AEVM) where necessary.
According to organizers, each registered Fan ID allows supporters to buy only one ticket per match, ensuring wider access and transparency in ticket distribution.
The process for obtaining tickets is straightforward:
- Download the YALLA App, available on Google Play and the App Store.
- Apply for a Fan ID and E-Visa (if required) through the app.
- Once approved, Visa cardholders can visit tickets.cafonline.com starting from Monday, 13 October at 09:00 Moroccan time (08:00 GMT) to purchase their AFCON 2025 tickets.
The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is expected to deliver a festival of football and culture, with fans urged to complete their Fan ID registration early to avoid last-minute rushes.
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