AFCON
Osimhen tops goal chart in AFCON 2023 qualifiers
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Victor Osimhen may have shot blank in two matches against soft target, Guinea Bissau, he remains a leading scorer in the on-going qualifying series of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations which finals hold in 2024.
With 88 matches concluded out of the projected 144, there have been 209 goals, making an average of 2.38 per match.
Of the 209 goals, Nigeria’s Osimhen scored five to tie with Senegal’s Sadio Mane who scored the same number.
Four of Osimhen’s goals came in the 10-0 defeat of Sao Tome & Principe last June. The match is Nigeria’s heaviest win, eclipsing a 1959 10-1 defeat of Dahomey (now Benin Republic).
Osimhen’s fifth goal was the one he scored in the 2-1 defeat of Sierra Leone in Abuja.
AFCON qualifying scorers so far
5 goals
- Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
- Sadio Mané (Senegal)
4 goals
- Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso)
- Louis Mafouta (Central African Republic)
3 goals
- Jorginho (Guinea Bissau)
- Peter Shalulile (Namibia)
- Lyle Foster (South Africa)
- Youssef Msakni (Tunisia)
- Patson Daka (Zambia)
2 goals
- Gelson Dala (Angola)
- Cédric Bakambu
- Omar Marmoush (Egypt)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
- Federico Bikoro (Equatorial Guinea)
- Sabelo Ndzinisa (Eswatini
- Osman Bukari (Ghana)
- Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
- Naby Keïta (Guinea)
- Zinho Gano (Guinea Bissau)
- Christian Kouamé (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Ibrahim Sangaré (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Gabadinho Mhango (Malawi)
- Mohamed Camara (Mali)
- El Bilal Touré (Mali)
- Aboubakar Kamara
- Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco)
- Daniel Sosah (Niger)
- Terem Moffi (Nigeria)
- Moses Simon (Nigeria)
- Luís Leal (Sao Tome & Principe)
- Boulaye Dia (Senegal)
- Kodjo Laba (Togo)
- Haythem Jouini (Tunisia)
- Lameck Banda (Zambia)
1 goal
- Mohamed El Amine Amoura (Algeria)
- Youcef Belaïli (Algeria)
- Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria)
- Baghdad Bounedjah(Algeria)
- Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
- Aïssa Mandi (Algeria)
- Lucas João (Angola)
- M’Bala Nzola (Angola)
- Jodel Dossou (Benin)
- Steve Mounié (Benin)
- Junior Olaitan (Benin)
- Mbatshi Elias (Botswana)
- Kabelo Seakanyeng (Botswana)
- Stephane Aziz Ki (Burkina Faso)
- Hassane Bandé (Burkina Faso)
- Abdoul Tapsoba (Burkina Faso)
- Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana (Burundi)
- Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon)
- Olivier Kemen (Cameroon)
- Karl Toko Ekambin (Cameroon)
- Ryan Mendes (Cape Verde)
- Jamiro Monteiro (Cape Verde)
- Júlio Tavares (Cape Verde)
- Karl Namnganda (Central African Republic)
- Isaac Ngoma (Central African Republic)
- Samuel Nlend (Central African Republic)
- El Fardou Ben Nabouhane (Comoros)
- Ibroihim Djoudja (Comoros)
- Youssouf M’Changama (Comoros)
- Benjaloud Youssouf (Comoros)
- Thievy Bifouma (Comoros)
- Gabriel Charpentier (Comoros)
- Antoine Makoumbou (Comoros)
- Jonathan Bolingi (DR Congo)
- Gaël Kakuta (DR Congo)
- Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo)
- Tarek Hamed (Egypt)
- Mostafa Mohamed (Egypt)
- Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Egypt)
- Saúl Coco (Equatorial Guinea)
- Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea)
- Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea)
- Siboniso Ngwenya (Eswatini)
- Shimelis Bekele (Ethiopia)
- Dawa Hotessa (Ethiopia)
- Kitika Jemma (Ethiopia)
- Kenean Markneh (Ethiopia)
- Abubeker Nassir (Ethiopia)
- Shavy Babicka (Gabon)
- Lloyd Palun (Gabon)
- Omar Colley (Gambia)
- Abdoulie Jallow (Gambia)
- Felix Afena-Gyan (Ghana)
- Antoine Semenyo (Ghana)
- Mohamed Bayo (Guinea)
- Morgan Guilavogui (Guinea)
- François Kamano (Guinea)
- Ilaix Moriba (Guinea)
- Mama Baldé (Guinea Bissau)
- Zidane Banjaqui (Guinea Bissau)
- Alfa Semedo (Guinea Bissau)
- Serge Aurier (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Sébastien Haller (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Franck Kessié (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Jean-Philippe Krasso (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Tshwarelo Bereng (Lesotho)
- William Jebor (Liberia)
- Mohammed Sangare (Liberia)
- Tonia Tisdell (Liberia)
- Saleh Al Taher (Libya)
- Njiva Rakotoharimalala (Madagascar)
- Kalifa Coulibaly (Mali)
- Aliou Dieng (Mali)
- Kamory Doumbia (Mali)
- Sékou Koïta (Mali)
- Adama Malouda Traoré (Mali)
- Aly Abeid (Mauritania)
- Abdallahi Mahmoud (Mauritania)
- Mouhamed Soueid (Mauritania)
- Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco)
- Fayçal Fajr (Morocco)
- Geny Catamo (Mozambique)
- Stanley Ratifo Mozambique)
- Gildo Vilanculos Mozambique)
- Absalom Iimbondi (Namibia)
- Amadou Sabo (Niger)
- Emmanuel Dennis (Nigeria)
- Peter Etebo (Nigeria)
- Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)
- Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
- Thierry Manzi (Rwanda)
- Gilbert Mugisha (Rwanda)
- Blaise Nishimwe (Rwanda)
- Eba Viegas (Sao Tome & Principe)
- Boulaye Dia (Senegal)
- Habib Diallo (Senegal)
- Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal)
- Youssouf Sabaly (Senegal)
- Mustapha Bundu (Sierra Leone)
- Musa Noah Kamara (Sierra Leone)
- Augustus Kargbo (Sierra Leone)
- Abu Komeh (Sierra Leone)
- Alhassan Koroma (Sierra Leone)
- Jonathan Morsay (Sierra Leone)
- Abubakarr Samura (Sierra Leone)
- Zakhele Lepasa (South Africa)
- Mihlali Mayambela (South Africa)
- Chol Daniel (South Sudan)
- Tito Okello (South Sudan)
- Mohamed Abdelrahman (Sudan)
- Waleed Al-Shoala (Sudan)
- Muhamed Kome (Sudan)
- George Mpole (Tanzania)
- Saimon Msuva (Tanzania)
- Euloge Placca (Togo)
- Seifeddine Jaziri (Tunisia)
- Ali Maâloul(Tunisia)
- Naïm Sliti (Tunisia)
- Milton Karisa (Uganda)
- Rogers Mato (Uganda)
- Kings Kangwa (Zambia)
- Enock Mwepu (Zambia)
- Fashion Sakala (Zambia)
1 own goal
- Lebogang Ditsele (Botswana) (against Equatorial Guinea)
- Mohammed Al Tuhami (Libya) (against Equatorial Guinea)
- Kiki Kouyaté (Mali) (against South Sudan)
AFCON
Nigerians, other nationals can apply, as CAF and Morocco Launch Volunteer Programme for AFCON 2025

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Morocco have launched the official Volunteer Programme for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, billed to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
According to CAF, more than 4,000 volunteers will be recruited to play a central role in ensuring the success of Africa’s most prestigious football tournament, which will be staged across six cities and nine stadiums in Morocco.
Applications are now open at volunteers.cafonline.com and will close on 8 October 2025. The opportunity is open to anyone above the age of 18.
Volunteers will be deployed across multiple functional areas, including media operations, spectator services, accreditation, hospitality, and fan engagement. Selected individuals will receive professional training ahead of the competition and work behind the scenes to deliver a memorable AFCON.
CAF stated that the programme is designed not only to support tournament operations but also to create an alumni network of skilled Africans who can contribute to future sporting events across the continent. Successful applicants will benefit from:
- Training and skill development.
- Official uniforms and certificates of participation.
- Networking opportunities with peers and professionals.
- The chance to contribute to Africa’s football legacy.
Volunteer registration opened on 17 September 2025. Selection and training will take place in October and November, with operations commencing in mid-December through to the tournament’s conclusion on 18 January 2026.
CAF described the initiative as an “exciting opportunity” for Africans to contribute to the growth of the continent’s flagship sporting event, which is expected to draw millions of visitors to Morocco.
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AFCON
CAF Security Chief, Nigeria’s Emeruwa, Leads Inspection of Tangier Stadium Ahead of Major Tournaments

Nigeria’s Dr. Christian Emeruwa, President of the Security and Safety Division of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), on Thursday, September 18, led an inspection visit to the Grand Stade de Tangier as preparations intensify for upcoming continental and global football events.
Emeruwa, who heads CAF’s continental security architecture, was joined by CAF Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba, senior Moroccan officials, and executives of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
The delegation also included managers of operational companies at the Grand Stade and SONARGES executives.
According to Le 360, the Nigerian official expressed satisfaction with the stadium’s facilities after touring key operational areas, including the main control room with its giant surveillance screen, as well as spectator, player, and VIP access zones.
The inspection was bolstered by the presence of Morocco’s top security and administrative officers—the regional commander of the Royal Gendarmerie, officials of the Auxiliary Forces and Civil Protection, the Wali of Security, the governor in charge of Internal Affairs, and representatives of the National Agency for Public Equipment (ANEP).
A technical meeting followed the tour, where engineers presented recent safety and security upgrades. Among the highlights was the planned installation of a FIFA-standard tarpaulin roof to enhance the venue’s compliance with global hosting requirements.
For Nigeria, the spotlight on Dr. Emeruwa underscores the country’s growing influence in African football administration, particularly in the critical areas of safety and security management for CAF competitions.
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AFCON
Morocco Takes Delivery of 723 Chinese Buses Ahead of AFCON

Morocco has received 723 high-end buses from Chinese manufacturer Yutong as part of preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicks off on December 21.
Yutong said on social media that the fleet “has officially rolled off the production line” and will provide “comprehensive transport services and reliable operational support” during the tournament.
An official handover ceremony was held on Friday at the company’s facility in Zhengzhou, Henan province, attended by Moroccan representatives and Yutong executives.
The buses were designed to cope with Morocco’s terrain and climate, including steep slopes, heat and sandstorms. They feature an independent front axle suspension to navigate narrow city streets and Yutong’s in-house “Blue Core System” for fuel efficiency.
The delivery is the largest single order of Chinese buses in Africa. Yutong will station more than 100 technicians in Morocco to provide training, maintenance and round-the-clock support during AFCON.
The deal is part of Morocco’s broader transport strategy, which includes plans to purchase 7,000 new buses by 2030—half of them electric—as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
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