AFCON
YES! FOOTBALL RETURNS HOME AS LAGOS IS CONFIRMED NEST OF SUPER EAGLES
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, who like the Biblical Noah’s weary dove that soared the earth around but not finding a resting place above and had to return to the Ark, have also returned to their traditional ground, Lagos.
According to This Day newspaper, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick on Thursday, confirmed Lagos as the permanent home ground of Super Eagles.
The city of aquatic splendour has been the home ground of the national team since their first home game of 20 October 1951 when they thrashed Ghana (then Gold Coast) 5-0 at the Association Ground, the present day Mobolaji Johnson Arena at Onikan.
But since the Super Eagles’ 1-0 defeat of Zambia in a drab Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match of 13 January 2001, the Super Eagles became nomadic, searching endlessly, a comfortable nest.
Before then, Lagos, with its vociferous crowd and immense football supporter ship, has been a slaughter slab for many visiting African teams.
Even the legendary Samuel Eto’o in an interview recalled his goals against Nigeria at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, claiming that to score against Nigeria at the ‘sacred’ Surulere ground was not a mean achievement.
Little wonder the excitement that followed the return of Super Eagles to Lagos in the last match day of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
It was aptly dubbed: ‘Football Returns Home’. It now appears to have marked the end of nomadic nature the team assumed having to play home matches in Calabar, Port Harcourt, Asaba, Benin and Kaduna among others, abandoning the tradition of great team like England who have Wembley as their traditional home ground.
The Super Eagles will begin the qualifying campaign for one of the five African slots to the next FIFA World Cup in Qatar this June and this means that Teslim Balogun Stadium which played host to the 3-0 drubbing of Lesotho will stage the opening match against Lone Star of Liberia.
Other teams in Group C are Central African Republic and Cape Verde.
“Yes our return to Lagos is good for the players and the NFF as well going by logistics and within the next 10 days, we will conclude the ‘Memorandum of Understanding with Lagos State Government and this will lay to rest the idea of movement around the country”, This Day quoted Pinnick as saying.
“The players and the coaching crew are pleased with the excellent football pitch and this alone is a major factor and when we look at other logistics we need to put in place before any international match, Lagos venue comes handy.
“We want to have a hitch free qualification matches and that is not to take away the fact that Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Kano, Edo, Kaduna and Cross River that have hosted the team before now have no place in the history of the success of Super Eagles,” he explained.
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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