AFCON
12 amazing facts ahead of Nigeria – Sudan AFCON Match
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
The Super Eagles will be attempting to pick qualification ticket for the knock-out stage of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations as they face Sudan on Saturday. A win for the Nigerian side not only retain for the Super Eagles the top spot in Group D, it confirms their place in the second round of the competition.
Sudan on the other hand will hope for a win to remain in contention for qualification for the knock out stage.
As usual, www.sportsvillagesquare.com takes an insightful look at the match and comes out with the following points of interest.
- It was in a match against Sudan that Nigeria became the first African country to reach the 100 goal mark in the World Cup qualifiers when Victor Agali scored the second in a 3-0 win in 2001.
- Sudan have won the African title only once in 1970 as against the three titles by Nigeria in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
- Sudan and Nigeria first met in the framework of the Africa Cup of Nations. Both were in Pool 2 of the 1963 edition of Africa Cup of Nations in Kumasi, Ghana.
- In their first ever encounter, Sudan, then one of the African powerhouses, beat Nigeria 4-0.
- This Saturday’s match will be Nigeria’s 95th Africa Cup of Nations match since the 1963 debut in Kumasi, Ghana.
- This match will be Sudan’s 26st match in the Africa Cup of Nations’ history since being one of the pioneers of the competition in 1957.
- Nigeria are currently ranked by FIFA as world’s number 36th, Sudan are ranked 125th.
- Nigeria used Sudan as launchpad to qualify for the football event of the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico after winning by a toss of coin following a 2-2 aggregate draw. Nigeria went ahead to beat Ethiopia to pick the ticket to the Olympics.
- When Port Harcourt became the 10th home ground for the Super Eagles in a competitive match, a World Cup qualifier, it was in a duel against Sudan.
- The revival mission that led to Super Eagles’ qualification for the 2002 World Cup started with a 4-0 defeat of Sudan in Ombdurman. It remains Nigeria’s biggest away win in a competitive match.
- When Nigeria missed out from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations following a last minute goal conceded in the six minute of added time in their home game with Guinea, the Sudanese who had six minutes earlier been eliminated were the beneficiaries, fortuitously picking the ticket as lucky second-place qualifier. This is their next qualification since the 2012 edition.
- In head-to-head confrontations, Nigeria has the edge over Sudan having won eight of 16 encounters while Sudan won four.
P W D L F A
Nigeria 16 8 4 4 28 16
Sudan 16 4 4 8 16 28
- 28 Nov. 1963 (CAN) Sudan 4 -0 Nigeria
- 5 Nov. 1967 (OQ.) Nigeria 1-0 Sudan
- 19 Nov. 1967 (OQ) Sudan 2-1 Nigeria
- 25 April 1993 (ACNq) Nigeria 4-0 Sudan
- 10 Nov. 1967 (OQ.) Sudan 2-1 Nigeria
- 13 Sept. 1969 (WCq) Nigeria 2-2 Sudan
- 2 Oct. 1969 (WCq) Sudan 3-3 Nigeria
- 13 Apr. 1973 (ACNq) Sudan 1-1 Nigeria
- 21 Apr. 1973 (ACNq) Nigeria 2-1 Sudan
- 4 Mar. 1976 (ACN) Sudan 0 -1 Nigeria
- 16 Aug. 1992 (ACNq) Sudan 0-0 Nigeria
- 27 Jan 2001 (WCq) Nigeria 3-0 Sudan
- 1 July 2001 (WCq) Sudan 0-4 Nigeria
- 9 Jan. 2008 (F) Sudan 0-2 Nigeria
- 11 Oct 2014 (ACNq) Sudan 1-0 Nigeria
- 15 Oct. 2014 (ACNq) Nigeria 3-1 Sudan
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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