AFCON
Morocco 2025 will be best ever AFCON, says Fouzi Lekjaa
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Morocco.
FIFA Council member, Fouzi Lekjaa who also doubles as the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has promised an excellent service delivery when Morocco hosts the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025.
Morocco was an overwhelming winner of the bidding process that led to the award of the continental premier sports competition earlier in the year.
The intense confidence reposed on Morocco has apparently brought pressure on the Moroccan football federation which has promised not to disappoint.
Just after the CAF Awards on Monday, the FRMF went into its general assembly on Thursday. Lekjaa, who is also a a senior Moroccan civil servant and Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget in the Kingdom of Morocco told the general assembly of FRMF that both the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 World Cup will be of the highest in terms of service delivery.
Delegates at the General Assembly of Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) on Thursday.
He rolled out Morocco’s most notable recent accomplishments in the world of football as well as becoming the ultimate destination for football competitions in Africa. It is however not a bed of roses as Lekjaa outlined the most important challenges awaiting the kingdom in the upcoming years.
The first of the challenges is the construction and renovation of several football stadiums.
During the assembly, Lekjaa urged the presidents of national clubs, regional leagues, and all the actors in the field of football to work on making the 2025 AFCON and the 2030 World Cup successful.
“You are responsible for the success of a historic royal project in the year 2030,” Lekjaa told the officials in question.
He went on to say that before 2030, Morocco will be able to demonstrate its capabilities by hosting the 2025 AFCON, the first time that Morocco organizes such event in 37 years. Morocco last hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1988. Cameroon and Nigeria played the final match.
Therefore, “responsibility has doubled, as we have to prove to the world that we are capable of organizing the World Cup, and that we will organize the best African Cup that the continent has ever seen,” he added.
Additionally, Lekjaa urged the leaders of the regional leagues to facilitate the infusion of fresh talent so that they can contribute additional value in the upcoming years.
In order to achieve more inclusive football success, the president noted that the country must improve football performance within the various leagues, including the women’s and amateur leagues.
“We must balance the reputation of our country with our endeavor to organize the World Cup and major demonstrations successfully, as well as develop our presence at the continental and global levels,” the president concluded.
What a turn-around! After four previous competitive matches without a win, the Super Eagles have regained their winning mentality after a 3-0 defeat of Benin Republic in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
The win also put the Super Eagles at the top of the Group D after both Libya and Rwanda played 1-1 draw last Thursday.
It is also the biggest win by the Super Eagles since their 2023 6-0 win over Sao Tome & Principe last year September.
Great man Ademola Lookman, he put in two goals straightening the possibility of his emerging as 2024 African Footballer of the Year.
The current title holder, Victor Osimhen proved his mettle coming off the bench in the second half to double Nigeria’s lead after Lookman’s late first half goal.
The Super Eagles will now honour their next fixture against Rwanda on Tuesday with the hope of consolidating their lead.
Benin Republic with no points and a deficit of three goals are rooted at the bottom of the log.
BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The National Chairman of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Rev. Samuel Ikpea has called on all Nigerians to rally round and pray for the Super Eagles ahead of Saturday’s Morocco 2025 AFCON qualifier against Benin Republic in Uyo.
Ikpea who is mobilizing support for the Super Eagles ahead of the clash in Uyo said that whatever Benin Republic come with both spiritually and physically in the game, we will surely overcome them.
“In the NFSC we have Christians, Muslims as well as those who believe in traditional worship and we respect the rights of freedom of worship of every member and all Nigerians.
“When we are faced with this kind of crucial game, we call on everyone to pray through their various believes because we foresee that Benin Republic are most likely coming to fall back on ‘black magic’ to enable them perfect a back-to-back victory over our Super Eagles after beating us 2-1 in our last meeting in a World Cup qualifier”
“We cannot underestimate the efficacy of the black magic” Ikpea further stressed, “but we believe that when we come together we can neutralize it’s efficacy.
“This is no time to sleep, we all have to rally round and do our best to support our Super Eagles because they cannot do it alone without the prayers and support of all Nigerians.
“While charging Nigerians to be positive with the team, we at the NFSC have done everything positive to overturn whatever plans they are coming with and we enjoin everyone to toe that path through prayers”.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles camp is bubbling with training in Uyo, as team Coach Austin Eguavoen, has been working hard to perfect tactics with the boys and ensure the Super Eagles soar on Saturday.
The Super Eagles have not won a qualifying match for any competition since their 6-0 defeat of Principe & Sao Tome on 10th September 2023 in Uyo. That was their last qualifying match for Cote d’Ivoire 2023 played in 2024.
Since then, they have played four World Cup qualifying matches without a win despite being the overwhelming favourites at those matches.
A forensic analysis of their World Cup qualifying since that of Qatar 2022 will reveal they had played seven consecutive matches without a win starting from their 1-1 home draw with Cape Verde in Lagos which qualified them for the play off. In the play off with Ghana, the Super Eagles drew the two matches.
In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they have gone four matches, getting three draws and a loss. The prospect of their getting a straight qualification from the group is doubtful as they have a mountain to climb by winning the remaining six matches, three of which are away duels of which are most likely to be played in South Africa, the home ground of their main rivals.
Zimbabwe and Lesotho play their home matches in South Africa and Nigeria also still have an away duel with Bafana Bafana.
The qualification series of AFCON 2025 presents the Super Eagles a new beginning. Starting from the semi-finals of the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, the team has won none of their four competitive matches in regulation time. The players have a date with destiny in Uyo this Saturday to wipe off the sagging image they have had in recent time.
A win will give the team the confidence expected in anticipation for future fixtures.
What a goal-laden day for Nigeria; Falconets also win with wide margin!
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