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.
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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