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Sporting Lagos and Bendel Insurance goalkeepers make AFCON 2023 provisional list as CAF finally reveals squads

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

With the Nigeria Football Association (NFF) non-disclosure of the Super Eagles’ list for the Africa Cup of Nations in January, CAF has same list along with those of the other participating teams.

Nigeria submitted a provisional list of 41 players from which 27 will be chosen by January 3, the deadline for the final list submission.

From the 41 list, three are from the domestic league. They are: Ojo Olorunleke of Enugu Rangers, Christian Nwoke of Sporting Lagos and Amas Obasgie of Bendel Insurance. They are all goalkeepers along with South Africa-based Stanley Bobo Nwabali expected to outperform widely criticised Francis Uzoho.

From the list of 41, equally vilified coach Peseiro is expected to prune the squad to 27 by January 3.

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In other words, he has to remove 14 names to compose the final squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

 

NIGERIA’S AFCON 2023 PROVISIONAL SQUAD

  # Full Name Birthdate Club Club Country
NIGERIA 1 Francis Odinaka Uzoho 10/28/1998 Omonia FC Cyprus
NIGERIA 2 Temitayo olufisayo Olaoluwa aina 10/8/1996 Nottingham Forest England
NIGERIA 3 Jamilu Collins 8/5/1994 Cardiff City FC England
NIGERIA 4 Ndidi Onyinye wilfred 12/16/1996 LEICESTER CITY FC England
NIGERIA 5 William paul Ekong 9/1/1993 Paok C Greece
NIGERIA 6 Ajayi Oluwasemilogo adesewo 11/9/1993 WEST BROMICH England
NIGERIA 7 Ahmed Musa 10/14/1992 Sivasspor k Turkey
NIGERIA 8 Ogochukwu frank Onyeka 1/1/1998 Brentford FC England
NIGERIA 9 Victor James osimhen 12/29/1998 SSC Napoli Italy
NIGERIA 10 Ayodele-aribo Temitope Joseph oluwaseyi 7/21/1996 SOUTHAMPTON FC England
NIGERIA 11 Samuel chimerenka Chukwueze 5/22/1999 AC MILAN Italy
NIGERIA 12 Ademola Olajide lookman 10/20/1997 Atlanta BC Italy
NIGERIA 13 Zaidu Sanusi 6/13/1997 FC PORTO Portugal
NIGERIA 14 Iheanacho Kelechi promise 10/3/1996 LEICESTER CITY FC England
NIGERIA 15 Moses daddy Simon 7/12/1995 FC NANTES France
NIGERIA 16 Adebayo Adeleye 5/17/2000 Hapoel Jerusalem Israel
NIGERIA 17 Calvin Chinedu ughelumba 12/31/1999 Fulham FC England
NIGERIA 18 Alexander Chuka iwobi 5/3/1996 Fulham FC England
NIGERIA 19 Sadiq Umar 2/2/1997 Real Sociedad Spain
NIGERIA 20 Awaziem Chidozie collins 1/1/1997 Boavista FC Portugal
NIGERIA 21 Tyronne Efe Ebuehi 12/16/1995 Empoli FC Italy
NIGERIA 22 Kenneth josiah Omeruo 10/17/1993 Kasimoasa FC Turkey
NIGERIA 23 Ojo Olorunleke oluwasegun 8/17/1995 Enyimba International FC Nigeria
NIGERIA 24 Akpoguma kevin John ufuoma 4/19/1995 TSG Hoffenhem Germany
NIGERIA 25 Victor Okoh boniface 12/23/2000 BAYER LEVERKUSEN Germany
NIGERIA 26 Onyemaechi Sopuruchukwu bruno 4/3/1999 Boavista FC Portugal
NIGERIA 27 Samuel Osayi bright 12/31/1997 FENERBACHCE S,K Turkey
NIGERIA 28 Bonaventure emmanuel Dennis 11/15/1997 Basaksehir Turkey
NIGERIA 29 Ebere paul Onuachu 5/28/1994 TRABSZONSPOR Turkey
NIGERIA 30 Terem Igobor moffi 5/25/1999 OGC NICE France
NIGERIA 31 Dessers cyriel Kolawale paul 12/8/1994 RANGERS FC Scotland
NIGERIA 32 Tella nathan Adewale temitayo 7/5/1999 Bayern Leverkusen Germany
NIGERIA 33 Nwadike raphael Onyedika 4/19/2001 Club Brugge Belgium
NIGERIA 34 Oluwafisayo Faruq Dele-bashiru 2/6/2001 HATAYSPOR Turkey
NIGERIA 35 Torunarigha Jordan 8/7/1997 KAA GENT Belgium
NIGERIA 36 Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi 7/20/2000 ROYAL ANTWERP Belgium
NIGERIA 37 Kelechi Nwakali 6/5/1998 GD Chaves Portugal
NIGERIA 38 Christain Nwoke 10/27/2000 Sporting Lagos FC Nigeria
NIGERIA 40 Stanley Bobo Nwabali 6/10/1996 Chippa United South Africa
NIGERIA 41 Obasogie Amas 12/27/1999 Bendel Insurance Nigeria

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

AFCON

Nigerians, other nationals can apply, as CAF and Morocco Launch Volunteer Programme for AFCON 2025

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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:

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  • 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

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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).

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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

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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.

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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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