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.
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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