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.
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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