AFCON
NIGERIA’S WORLD CUP OPPONENTS, CAPE VERDE BEAT CAMEROON TO KEEP AFCON DREAM ALIVE
Cape Verde, one of Nigeria’s Group C World Cup qualifying opponents, came from a goal down to beat next year’s Africa Cup of Nations hosts Cameroon 3-1 in Praia on Friday and keep their own qualification hopes alive.
Goals from Carlos Pereira and Ryan Mendes in between Macky Bagnack’s own goal saw the Blue Sharks produce a comeback after going down to a sublime Pierre Kunde freekick in the first half.
The result, Cape Verde’s first win in the group after four consecutive draws, sees them move to seven points, two ahead of third place Rwanda and have destiny in their own hands heading into the final match day on Tuesday.
They will be away to bottom placed Mozambique in the final round of matches where they will need to win to confirm their qualification. A draw might be risky if Rwanda pull off a win away to Cameroon as the Eastern Africans have a better goal aggregate.
In Praia, under very tough conditions, Cameroon got into the lead after 14 minutes when Kunde took advantage of the strong wind to beat the keeper with a well taken long range freekick.
The Cameroonians had sought to take full advantage of the wind and before the goal, Vincent Abubakar had taken a swirling volley from the edge of the area which was turned behind for a corner.
Two minutes after conceding, Cape Verde had a brilliant chance to draw level when Mendes broke into the box off a through pass, but his attempted lob over the keeper went wide.
But the home side kept the pressure, finally levelling matters after 25 minutes when Pereira shot low from inside the box after the Cameroon backline struggled to clear a long throw.
Cape Verde then went into the lead in the 59th minute when Bagnack scored in his own goal as he tried to cut out Mendes’ cross from the right, the speedy forward having raced into the box to slap a low cross into the area.
Cameroon made changes with Clinton Njie coming in and the striker came close to levelling matters in the 64th minute when he cut in from the left, but his shot was turned behind for a corner. Kunde had another shot two minutes later, but the keeper punched his effort away.
The Cameroonians came close again in the 67th minute when substitute Martin Hongla struck a shot from range, but it hit the outside of the bar.
Cape Verde however sealed their victory in the 68th minute when Cameroon lost the ball cheaply allowing Mendes to run into the box and shoot low past the keeper.
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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