AFCON
SUPER EAGLES WOULD HAVE BEEN LEAST AFRICAN TEAM AFFECTED IF EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE HAD LIVED
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
With a possible FIFA worldwide ban on clubs and their players involved in the now crumbling European Super League, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will be the least affected among the football powers of Africa.
FIFA had threatened the players of the proposed Super League with bans, not just from the World Cup, but also from their respective national teams. The players would have been excluded from the qualifying series of World Cup which begin in June and also the Africa Cup of Nations which holds in January 2022.
Thirteen African players would have had their international career in jeopardy.
Only one fringe player of the Super Eagles, Taiwo Awoniyi who is a Liverpool player serving long term loan spell would have been affected.
At the moment, Awoniyi is on loan at German sides, Union Berlin. The other Nigerian player who would have been affected, Victor Moses of Chelsea who is on loan at Spartak Moscow has long retired from the Super Eagles.
In contrast to the possible effect on Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire would have been the worst hit in Africa.
The West African sides have at least five regular players spread among the clubs behind the European Super League.
The players are Sergie Aurier of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United pair of Eric Bailly and Amad Diallo, Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal and Franck Kessie of AC Milan.
Senegal, Africa’s number one in FIFA ranking would have lost three players owing to the potential ban. These include Liverpool forward Sadio Mane, first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy of Chelsea, and Moussa Wague – on the books at Barcelona, though currently on loan at Greek side PAOK Salonika.
Other African players that would have been affected are Egypt’s Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City as well as Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal.
Others who would have been affected include Guinea’s Naby Keita of Liverpool and clubmate, Cameroon’s Joel Matip. Real Madrid, among the initial 12 Super League clubs, is the only one without an African player.
The lineup of players on danger list are:
Liverpool:
- Mohamed Salah – Egypt
- Sadio Mane – Senegal
- Naby Keita – Guinea
- Joel Matip – Cameroon
- (Taiwo Awoniyi – Nigeria – on loan at Union Berlin)
Chelsea:
- Edouard Mendy – Senegal
- Hakim Ziyech – Morocco
- (Baba Rahman – Ghana – on loan at PAOK Salonika)
- (Victor Moses – Nigeria – on loan at Spartak Moscow)
Manchester City:
- Riyad Mahrez – Algeria
Manchester United:
- Eric Bailly – Cote d’Ivoire
- Amad Diallo – Cote d’Ivoire
Tottenham Hotspur:
- Serge Aurier – Cote d’Ivoire
Arsenal:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Gabon
- Thomas Partey – Ghana
- Nicolas Pepe – Cote d’Ivoire
- Mohamed El Neny – Egypt
AC Milan:
- Ismael Bennacer – Algeria
- Franck Kessie – Cote d’Ivoire
Atletico Madrid:
- Geoffrey Kondogbia – Central African Republic
Barcelona:
(Moussa Wague – Senegal – on loan at PAOK Salonika)
Inter Milan:
- Achraf Hakimi – Morocco
Juventus:
- Hamza Rafia – Tunisia (in Juve’s junior side)
Real Madrid:
- None
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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