AFCON
AFCON 2023 Countdown: Cote d’Ivoire may turn back some Nigerians over travel passports
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigerians holding the ECOWAS Travel Certificates and going for the Africa Cup of Nations next month are certain to be turned back from entering Cote d’Ivoire.
Those holding travelling passports also have to ensure that their document still have up to six-month validity period as at January 2024 when the Africa Cup of Nation kicks off in Cote d’Ivoire.
Ordinarily, Nigerians, as ECOWAS citizens do not need visa to enter Cote d’Ivoire where ECOWAS was born in 1975, but they still need travel document.
In a chat with Robert Akpenpuun, an immigration officer and former protocol officer of the NFF who is now an Immigration Attaché at the Nigerian Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire, the normal ECOWAS Travel Certificate which most Nigerian travelers carry when they travel along West Africa is not acceptable in Cote d’Ivoire.
According to him, the document is honoured in Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana, the road route most Nigerians will take while going to Cote d’Ivoire.
But they are certain to be denied entry into Cote d’Ivoire. Sports Village Square gathered that the travel certificate is not honoured by the Ivorian immigration officers as it is not biometric.
Akpenpuun informed that the two acceptable travel document into Cote d’Ivoire are the E-Passport and the newly introduced Enhanced E- Passport which is being issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service offices in Lagos, Ogun, Rivers , Kano and the FCT. Both are running concurrently.
In addition to the E- Passport, Akpenpumm whose offices in Abidjan are overlooking the famous Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, venue of Nigeria’s last group match, also advised Nigerians to ensure that they carry their yellow vaccination card which must be up to date.
The yellow card is compulsory for entry into Cote d’Ivoire, Akpenpuun remarked. He pointed our that the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan is currently documenting ways to ensure that the Nigerian team and Nigerians have a good time during the Africa Cup of Nations.
He said that the acting Nigerian ambassador will document and pass the advisory to the Nigeria Football Federation.
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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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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