AFCON
Nigeria’s World Cup qualification contender, Ghana still in turmoil over Ayew brothers
Just as it appears the Super Ealges have put behind them the dissappointment of early elimination from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and now focus on picking a valuable World Cup ticket, their contenders, Ghana Black Stars are still in tumoil
Nigeria and Ghana are due to go head to head in a two legged World Cup playoff in two months time.
Apart from the sack of ther coach, there had been speculations that their insipartional players, the Ayew brothers – Andre and Jordan may have voluntarily resigned from the Black Stars.
But a family spokesman, according to information Sports Village Square gathered from some Ghanaian sources, denied the stories.
According to Ghanaweb, a former Black Stars midfielder who is related to the Ayew brothers has waded into the issue.
Sola Ayew an uncle to Andre and Jordan has dared management of the Black Stars to drop his nephews if they are unfit for the senior national team.
The Ayew brothers in recent times have come under huge criticisms from a section of Ghanaians for their performance in the national team especially Jordan Ayew who has not scored for the Black Stars in a long while.
The brothers were part of the Black Stars squad that finished bottom of Group C with just a point from three matches in a group featuring Morocco, Gabon, and debutantes Comoros at the AFCON 2021.
Ghana recorded their worst performance in history as they went in search of their fifth African title.
Following Ghana’s exit from the AFCON 2021, a section of Ghanaians have called for the expulsion of the Ayews from the national team.
But speaking in an interview, Sola Ayew called on management of the Black Stars to exclude the Ayew brothers from the national team if they don’t merit a call-up.
“If you ask me whether the national team is not a reserve of the Ayews, then drop them [from the national team]. It’s not me or Abedi Pele or the boys who pushed for their invitation Adikanfo FM.
He added, “you can’t say the Ayews are like this, the Ayews are like that. The Ayews we know eat football, drink football, sleep football and we want to be there. So if we cannot do it then you drop us, period.”
According to him if there are better players than the Ayews, they deserve to be given the opportunity. He explained also that being tagged as ‘owning the Black Stars as a family property’ is not a bother.
“We hear those rumours but it does not disturb us because it’s part of football. If those who criticize the Ayews do not exist, football will not be complete. When we are not doing well and there are players who are better, drop them,” Sola Ayew added.
Sola [Kwame] Ayew who is a former Ghanaian footballer played as a striker and spent most of his time in Portugal where he appeared for four teams in the 90s, amassing 131 appearances with 51 goals for six seasons
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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