AFCON
One crown, 24 teams, 52 matches unfold as delayed and troubled AFCON 2021 gets underway
BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE
Which national team will wear the African football crown on Sunday 6th February?
Seven matches, no defeat at the knockout stages will deliver the trophy to that team at the grand finale to be held at the Stade Omnisport Paul Biya (otherwise known as Olembe Stadium) in Olembe, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
As the 33rd edition of the continent’s flagship competition kicks off, pundits and fans have their favourites among whom are title holders Algeria, who have only won the tournament once when they hosted in 1990 beating Nigeria by a lone goal in the final. The Super Eagles had been humiliated by the Desert Warriors 5-1 in the opening match a fortnight earlier.
Expected to shine and perhaps break the voodoo are the Teranga Lions of Senegal. Africa’s No 1 rated team who painfully lost the final of Egypt 2019 by a lone goal, just as they did in Mali 2002 to Cameroon in the shootout.
Other contenders are Morocco, whose only hurrah in the competition was in 1976, and hosts Cameroon, who have claimed the trophy five times.
Record title holders Egypt will strive to make amends for disappointing their fans on home soil when they exited in the Round of 16 to South Africa by a lone goal.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles arrive the competition in the throes of a managerial crisis. Following the sack of Gernot Rohr, an interim manager Augustine Eguavoen is in charge with a substantive manager, Portuguese Jose Peseirowatching over the squad and assuming responsibilities after the competition.
In spite of that, and the absence of top striker Victor Osimhen, among other regulars, the Super Eagles are expected to arrive in the final for the first time since they lifted the trophy in South Africa 2013. Nigeria are aiming for their fourth title.
Tunisia can’t also be ruled out of contention as the 2004 champions hunger for another opportunity to drink from the cup.
Cameroon 2021, being played this year, begins with the hosts having Burkina Faso on the other side of the field at the Stade Omnisport Paul Biya.
Burkina Faso lost in the final to Nigeria in 2013, which is the farthest the Stallions had travelled in the tournament. Four years later in Gabon, Burkina Faso won bronze.
While the Stallions failed to qualify in 2017, Cameroon used that edition to win their No 5 African title.
Both sides had clashed five times with honours even – a win each and three draws. Interestingly, their respective victory happened away from their fans.
The Burkinabe trashed Gabon 3-0 in a friendly last Sunday.
In the other fixture of the opening day, Ethiopia will engage Cape Verde Islands.
Few football fans remember that Ethiopia had ruled the continent. That was almost six decades ago when they won the then fledgling competition in 1962 as hosts.
Tunisia, Uganda and the then United Arab Republic were the other countries in that edition, which was the third in the series.
Except for a fourth placed finish among eight teams again as hosts, Ethiopia have either being absent in the competition or exited at the group stage. They were not in the last three editions before this one.
Cape Verde debuted in South Africa 2013. And what an experience they had!
The minnows emerged from Group A behind the hosts after beating Angola and sharing honours with the Bafana Bafana and Morocco.
The Blue Sharks however lost 0-2 to Ghana at the next stage – the last eight.
A group stage exit followed in the next edition in 2015, while they missed out of 2017 and 2019.
Ethiopia and Cape Verde are meeting for the first time, whether in competitive or friendly encounter.
Sunday’s matches
Group A
- Cameroon v Burkina Faso (5 pm)
- Ethiopia v Cape Verde Islands (8 pm) (both WAT)
Monday’s matches
Group B
- Senegal v Zimbabwe (2 pm)
- Guinea v Malawi (5 pm)
Group C:
- Morocco v Ghana (5 pm)
- Comoros Islands v Gabon (8 pm)
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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