AFCON
Burkina Faso and Cameroon battle for place on the podium
As it was in the begining, so shall it be today as Cameroon and Burkina Faso have an encore tonight.
Both contested the opening match in which two penalty kick goals enabled Cameroon to come back from behind to a 2-1 winning start.
The penalty goals also aided Cameroon’s skipper, Vincent Aboubakar who looked set to be named the tournament’s highest scorer.
The rematch is however not what any of the two teams would have wished for.
They are contesting in the losers’ final match for the third place rather than for the ultimate trophy.
For Burkina Faso, a third-place finish will be a good outing as they merely rank among the middle level powers in African football. A podium finish is a good outing only that it is a step below their best achievement of runnersup to Nigeria in 2013.
Above all, Burkina Faso will seek revenge against the Indomitable Lions, who won the tournament’s opener 2-1 last month during the group stage.
The coach, Kamou Malo summed it up: “It is true that we are disappointed following our elimination in the semifinals, but we have to prepare ourselves properly to play this match for third place in the best conditions. We have to remobilize now. We are physically and mentally ready for play our game.”
The captain, Bertand Traoure added: “we are obviously down after our elimination, but we have to remobilize to get the bronze medal. At this level of the competition, we feel tired but we will do everything to have a good match and end the tournament on a good note.”
As for the hosts, the match is not what they had bargained for. They had revelled in beating lower-level teams like Ethiopia, Comoros among others before facing an ultimate and deadly challenge by Africa Cup of Nations record-winners, Egypt.
The title aspirations of the hosts just dissolved in smokes. Now decimated after their elimination on their own land, Cameroon seem that they still can’t get out of this defeat.
The disappointment is better gleaned from the comments of their Portuguese coach, Antonio Conceiçao: “The sadness is great especially when we do not achieve our objectives. The players have worked well, and I am proud of them. It is up to us to learn now and move forward. I give the best of myself to have the best results with this team. We wanted to write history, but it didn’t work out”.
Barely 48 hours after penalties’ heartbreak, the Indomitable Lions will have to regroup and try to give their faithful supporters something to cheer at.
“It’s difficult to live in such a situation but that’s football,” said Indomitable Lions goalkeeper André Onana. “We ask our supporters and all Cameroonians to stay around our young team. We have to go after our goals,” he added.
“It’s true that disappointment is great, but that’s life. We have to regroup to win this third place this Saturday against Burkina Faso.
“We have to try to forget elimination in the semifinals and think about the future, especially this classification match and the World Cup qualifiers. We have confidence in ourselves, and we must recover quickly”, said the goalkeeper.
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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