AFCON
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: SEGUN ODEGBAMI DEBUTS FOR NIGERIA
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
It is 44 years today that Nigeria football legend, Segun Odegbami made his official debut for the national team.
The tall speedy winger who was an inside left player for the then IICC Shooting Stars had had his first national call-up in 1974 when the national coach, Othman Calder assembled a selection of 33 players from the first National Sports Festival held in the previous year.
But Odegbami did not feature in the national team until his sensational form in the 1976 Africa Cup Winners’ Cup which was in its second edition.
Odegbami was a major actor in Shooting Stars continental success that year. He was invited again into the national team while he was on club action against Rokana United of Zambia in Lusaka.
With the then Green Eagles’ qualification for the Montreal Olympics, Odegbami was included in the list of players. But there was a challenge of getting his passport photograph affixed into the entry form.
Odegbami was then away with Shooting Stars in Lusaka. His passport photograph had to be curled from a Daily Sketch publication.
On return from Zambia, he teamed up with the Green Eagles who were Germany-bound on a training tour. National coach, Jelisavicic Tihomer-Tiko (Father Tiko) of the then Yugoslavia had selection problem for the centre forward position where Thompson Usiyan appeared to have secured a place after his sterling performance at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations in Ethiopia.
In the trial matches with German clubs and Yugoslavian clubs, Father Tiko alternated Odegbami and Usiyan in each half of the matches played. Coincidentally, they scored the same number of goals in the matches they played as centre forwards.
The dilemma for the coach was solved on this date 16 October 1976 in a World Cup qualifying match against Sierra Leone in Freetown. Odegbami started from the bench in a game that turned to be his official first Grade A game as previous encounters were against amateur European sides.
Right winger at the match, Baba Otu Mohammed lost form and Odegbami was called up as a substitute as the match wore out to its last 15 minutes.
Then began the great adventure of Odegbami on the right wing. He also suddenly had a striking partnership with Usiyan at the centre forward. The match ended goalless.
Odegbami rose to become the best right winger Nigeria ever produced. But despite his wonderful acceleration on the wings, he only made it to two Africa Cup of Nations editions in 1978 and 1980.
He had 46 caps and scored 21 goals in his five-year career in the national team.
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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