AFCON
WE’LL BE CALM AND CALCULATED AGAINST SUPER EAGLES, CLAIMS VENGEANCE-SEEKING BENIN SQUIRRELS
The Benin Republic squad facing the Super Eagles at home at the Charles de Gaulle stadium in Porto-Novo will not be intimidated by the heavy weaponry of the Nigerian side.
According to information gleaned by Sports Village Square from Benin Republic newspaper, La Nation, the Benin Republic players were aware of the pedigree of the Super Eagles as three-time African champion and the presence “of the large Nigerian artillery under the aegis of Gernot Rohr.”
According to the publication which was translated from French to English using Google translator, the Benin team had their last open training at the Charles de Gaulle stadium in Porto-Novo on Thursday as subsequent trainings from Friday will be behind the doors.
Continuing, La Nation revealed that Michel Dussuyer, coach of the Squirrels, is counting on the individual and collective strengths of his players before this derby which promises to be enticing between the two neighbours.
Quarter-finalist of the last African Cup of Nations, Benin, which has already rubbed shoulders with many major nations of the continent such as Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Morocco and Zambia, will be keen to take revenge on Nigeria who beat them in the first leg by a score of 2-1.
Confident during the training session, the Squirrels intend to approach the match with serenity.
Apart from Olivier Verdon, key link in the defensive hinge who will be absent, Benin will be able to count on Khaled Adénon in the axis who can be helped in his tasks by Cédric Hountondji, David Kiki, Yohan Roche, Moïse Adiléhou and Youssouf Assogba or Evian Thonon’s left side, Imorou Emmanuel.
In midfield, Dussuyer has his usual squad even if no one can swear on the form of the captain of the selection, the sporting public will certainly have the opportunity to see young people like Rodrigue Kossi, Mattéo Ahlinvi, Jérôme Bonou and Anaane Tidjani taking over alongside their elders Sessi d’Almeida and Jordan Adeoti in this compartment.
Very lively in their clubs, Marcellin Koukpo, Jacques Bessan and Jodel Dossou will be able to benefit from the mastery of Cebio Soukou, decisive passer during his last matches with the Squirrels, to make the difference in case they are aligned.
Often potent in attack, Michael Poté and Steve Mounié are also expected by the Beninese sporting public in this match which seems unbalanced given not only the numbers but also the positioning of the two teams in the Fifa ranking.
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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