AFCON
AFRICAN CHAMPIONS, ALGERIA MAINTAIN UNBEATEN RUN, ZIMBABWE QUALIFIES
Already qualified for Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021, defending champions Algeria kept their unbeaten record intact with an away thrilling 3-3 draw to Zambia in Lusaka, to retain top spot of Group H with one game to spare.
The draw in Lusaka meant Zimbabwe guaranteed qualification to the AFCON finals, having beaten Botswana 1-0 in a simultaneous kickoff in Gaborone.
Perfect Chikwende scored what proved to be the game’s lone goal after 14 minutes, as Zimbabwe raised their tally to 8 points, four more than Botswana and Zambia to guarantee their place in Cameroon next January.
Meanwhile in Lusaka, reigning African champions Algeria took the lead three times against Zambia, only to finish the six-goal thriller with a point each.
As early as the fourth minute, Mehdi Abeid shot rebounded from the crossbar. Islam Slimani narrowly missed the opening goal after 10 minutes from Baghdad Bounedjah cross.
The Zambians replied through Mouabe whose header narrowly missed the goal after 16 minutes.
Two minutes later, Slimani’s cross found Rachid Ghezzal who opened the scoring for the visitors.
Zambia tried to find an immediate equalizer, and Luka Banda shot found a superb save from Algeria’s goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi.
Slimani turned from provider to scorer when he doubled Algeria’s lead from Ghezzal’s cross after 26 minutes.
But Zambia did not give up, and halved the deficit after 34 minutes when Patson Daka scored from the spot, as the first half ended 2-1 for the visitors’ favor.
After the break, the game was a lively see-saw affair. Zambia found the equalizer at 52nd minute when Clatos Chama’s header from Mulenga cross went behind Mbolhi to make it 2-2.
Two minutes later, Slimani completed his brace for the night, scoring from Bounedjah cross.
Djamel Belmadi thought his men grabbed another victory, but Zambia restored parity once again, and it was Daka from the spot once more after 80 minutes.
Algeria, who extended their unbeaten run to 23 games, raised their tally to 11 points to guarantee Group H top spot.
On the final match day, Algeria will host Botswana while Zimbabwe faces Zambia in Harare.
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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