AFCON
FOOTBALL RETURNS HOME WITH SUPER EAGLES HOSTING LESOTHO
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
When the Super Eagles take on Lesotho this Tuesday in a dead rubber Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match, football will be returning to its natural habitat as Lagos had been the hub of football activities in Nigeria many years ago.
Even though the outcome of the match is of no effect to the two teams, Sports Village Square comes up with fascinating points on the match.
- None of the entire crop of Super Eagles has ever played in front of Lagos crowd before.
- The Nigeria – Lesotho match will be the first Super Eagles’ competitive match in Lagos in the past 20 years. The last time the core national team played a competitive match in Lagos was on 13 January 2001 when the team defeated Zambia 1-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. The 2003 and 2004 LG tournaments were played by largely home-based players.
- It has been 40 years since the Nigerian national team lost a competitive match in Lagos. That was on 10 October 1981 when the then Green Eagles lost 0-2 to Algeria in a World Cup qualifier. The team played a 2-2 draw in regulation and extra time with Cameroon in the final match of AFCON 2000 and only missed the trophy through the lottery of penalty shootout.
- When the Super Eagles take on Lesotho, it will be the second time the team will play at the Teslim Balogun Stadium having on 9 February 2011 defeated Sierra Leone 2-1 in a floodlit friendly match.
- This will be the fourth clash of Nigeria and Lesotho. The past three encounters were won by the Super Eagles. In their first encounter in Maseru on 8 October 2006, Nigeria recorded a 1-0 away win in the Africa Cup of Nations match. In the return leg, it was 2-0 against Lesotho in Warri on 8 September 2007. When the team met in the Match Day 2 of the current Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria again won 4-2.
- When Nkoto Masoabi scored an 11th minute goal to shoot Lesotho ahead in their 17 November 2019 AFCON clash, it was the first time Lesotho scored against Nigeria.
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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