AFCON
What a tournament of twists, Ghana are gone!
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Heart break for Ghana, delight for Comoros! And so, Ghana are out of the Africa Cup of Nations, the first among the nine World Cup play-off teams to suffer the cruel fate.
What a game of fluctuating fortunes as Ghana are kicked out of the tournament, deeply rooted at the bottom of Group C table after a 2-3 loss to unlikely winners, Comoros.
The win will certainly send people searching the African map to know the location of Comoros. Well, it is a chain of islands situated off the southeastern coast of Africa, to the east of Mozambique and northwest of Madagascar.
They are making a debut at the Africa Cup of Nations and the 3-2 win over four-time champions is a pleasant one for them, although it may not be enough for them to advance into the knockout stage.
But it was damaging enough for Ghana who laboured to come back from two goals down to initially tie at 2-2 before the backbreaking third goal was conceded.
In their opening two matches, the problem Ghana had was conceding late goals in the games with Morocco and Gabon.
RELATED STORY: Early AFCON exit looms for Ghana. https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2022/01/18/early-afcon-exit-looms-for-ghana/
But on Tuesday, they conceded early goal that proved damaging. The game was barely four minutes old when El Fardou Ben Mohamed went through two Ghana central defender to beat the goalkeeper and another defender for the opening goal.
To worsen the matter for Ghana, their inspirational striker, Andre Ayew was given a straight red card after jabbing Comoros keeper following a clash.
With Ghana struggling to level up another damage came in the 62nd minute when El El Fardou Ben Mohamed assisted Ahmed Mogni with a pass and the latter clinically finished it into the Ghanaian net.
Ghana fought back. Off a cornerkick, Richmond Boakye pulled a goal back barely two minutes after Comoros doubled their lead. In the 77th minute, Alaxander Djku levelled up for Ghana and they pressed for a lead that could have seen them into the knockout stage.
It was not to be. Five minutes to regulation time, Mogni fired in the third goal.
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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