AFCON
Jinxed Abiola National Stadium, vandalised two weeks ago is 19 today
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is 19 years today since the now renamed National Stadium in Abuja was commissioned by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The stadium which from 8 October 2011 when it hosted the 2-2 draw 2012 Africa Cup of Nations drawn match of Nigeria and Guinea, slumped to an abject state of disrepair was only recently resuscitated.
Parts of the installations on the pitch, especially the pitch panels, goal post nets and dug-outs were vandalised by irate fans protesting the Super Eagles’ loss of World Cup ticket to Ghana.
Incidentally, it was the third time the national team has failed to pick qualification ticket for major tournament and the youth side even failed to lift trophy.
First on 8 October 2005, despite massive 5-1 defeat of Zimbabwe at the stadium, Nigeria failed in the bid to pick the 2006 World Cup ticket, technically losing on head-to-head rule to Angola who won their own away game, 1-0 against Rwanda.
Like it happened last month in Abuja, Austin Eguavoen was also the Nigerian team handler. In the second instance of losing qualification ticket at the now 19-year old Abuja Stadium, Samson Siasia led the Super Eagles that conceded a goal in the last minute of the added time to end their encounter with Guinea 2-2 and lost out in the bid to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the last official even-year edition.
The circle of not picking a qualification ticket at the stadium was completed last month in the World Cup playoff with Ghana. Before then, the Golden Eaglets, against all odds lost 0-1 to Switzerland in 15 November 2009 final match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup to cast speculations of possible jinx around the stadium that is fashioned after the Gottlieb Daimler Stadium, Stuttgart, one of the arenas for the Germany 2006 World Cup.
Also, at the 2003 African Games, Nigeria lost the gold medal match, 2-0 to Cameroon at the Abuja Stadium on 16 October 2003 to set the tone of missed tickets and trophies at the sumptuous arena.
However, on 12 December 2004, Enyimba picked the last of their two Champions League wins at the arena after winning 5-3 through penalty shootout against Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel.
When the Abuja Stadium was opened on 8 April 2003, the first match was between Shooting Stars of Ibadan and Sunshine Stars of Akure. Both teams are perennial strugglers in the Nigerian domestic league.
Shooting Stars’ Sikiru Lawal who scored the first goal at the stadium soon got relegated into anonymity. The same happened to Ghana’s Patrick Agyemany scorer of the first goal in the first international match at the stadium when Nigeria beat Ghana 3-1 on 30 May 2003.
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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