AFCON
AFCON: Osimhen in Abuja, but set to return to Italy
Super Eagles’ hit-man, Victor Osimhen who made tremendous recovery from eye and cheekbone injuries is reportedly at the camp base of the Super Eagles but will likely return to Italy before the training sessions of the Nigerian team begin.
According to Nigerian daily newspaper, Thisday, the player arrived Nigeria last week for Christmas and planned to report to the Super Eagles camp this Wednesday.
His being there is however just to mark the attendance register as he will be returning to his Napoli club in Italy to be part of the Serie A encounter against Juventus.
ThisDay’s report indicates that Osimhen arrived Abuja late last week for yuletide and planned to report to camp today before flying back to Italy to help Napoli role back to the summit of the table.
He wants to be part of the action against the Biaconeri side on January 6th and then join the rest of the team in Garoura same night via chartered flight.
According to top Italian blog, Tuttusports.com, the quest of the Nigerian star is generating tension between the club and NFF but the club hopes to reach an agreement with Nigeri by Thursday evening in their bid to delay the striker much longer than the stipulated period of time.
“Napoli are on the defensive in the negotiation with Nigeria football house owing to the fact that the initial arrangement was to allow the Italian doctor confirm the fitness level of the Nigerian forward before he can be released to join the African football party in Cameroon.
“The club is also aware that Osimhen is obsessed at playing for his country and will not want to hurt his feelings and are delighted that he also wants to lift Napoli back to the top of the league in Italy,” it staed.
The blog also quoted Sky Sports that the player is getting closer to fitness and he will undergo a control scan tomorrow (December 31st) from Professor Gianpaolo Tartaro who operated him the first time.
“The Nigerian has a dream to play on January 6th against Juventus before leaving for the African Cup of Nations. Going by the initial agreement, Osimhen is scheduled for January 3rd but Napoli hopes to find an agreement with the Nigerian federation to temporarily detain the player in Italy, in order to make him play against Biaconeri and then let him leave for the cup,” Tuttusports.com stated .
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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