AFCON
All eyes on Yaounde as Super Eagles seek to avoid Egypt, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
The path to glory at the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon will be mapped out this Tuesday (August 17 ) as the final draw will be held.
For record holders of the third place position in the continent’s premier football competition, the Super Eagles, they will be seeking to avoid any of the top seeded three teams in the Pot 2 of the draw.
The three teams that could put banana peels on the path of the Super Eagles at the group stage are Egypt, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire – all former champions at the competition.
The trio collectively have won the trophy 13 times out of 32 editions. They are the teams, that not just Nigeria, but the remaining five teams in Pot 1 will wish to avoid.
Egypt lead the deadly pack in Pot 2. They have won the trophy seven times and are still hungry of a record extending eighth time.
Ghana follow with five titles and had been under-achievers since their last victory in 1982. At next year, it will be forty years since the Black Stars last tasted victory. That is enough to make them hungrier.
Cote d’Ivoire with two titles on their trophy shelf are seeking to re-enact their golden era when they had deadly players such as Didier Drogba, Kolo Toure among others.
Any fixture with Cote d’Ivoire of recent had posed danger for Nigeria. The Ivoriens were directly involved in eliminating both the men’s and women’s teams of Nigeria from qualification for the football events of Tokyo 2020.
Even their Under 20 team similarly dealt heavy blows to Nigeria at WAFU tournament last year. With Nigeria seeking to break away from their usual third place which they had for a record-extending eighth time in 2019, the wish will be to avert the trio of ‘extremely’ dangerous teams of Pot 2.
Scaling the group stage has almost become a tradition for Nigeria as the team only failed to achieve this twice – 1963 and 1982.
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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