AFCON
AFCON Fever Grips Cote D’Ivoire –
The streets of Abidjan are buzzing with excitement as fans flock in from across Africa ahead of the continent’s biggest football party kicking off on Saturday night.
Cote d’Ivoire’s capital has been transformed into a sea of colour and noise as the CAF Africa Cup of Nations hype shifts into overdrive.
Fans draped in their national colours have poured into the city, with streets and bars filled with jerseys, flags and vuvuzelas.
Buses full of supporters have arrived from neighbouring countries like Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Senegal Mauritania, and Nigeria in recent days.
Meanwhile the airport has been abuzz as fans and media fly in from across Africa and the world before the tournament opener with cities across the country witnessing a similar wave.
“The atmosphere here is amazing already,” said Morocco fan Hassan El Bakkali told CafOnline.com in Abidjan on Saturday morning.
An Ivorian fan Yves Bedie said: “Everyone is excited for the football to start. You can feel the AFCON fever building in the city.”
Vendors are capitalising on the football frenzy by selling team jerseys, caps, scarves and paraphernalia on street corners.
Roads are jammed with honking cars and motorbikes festooned with flags as national pride sweeps through Abidjan.
Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana Morocco and Mali colours are proving particularly popular given the heavy expectations on the hosts and reigning champions.
But shirts from Nigeria, Cameroon and North African nations like Egypt are also selling fast.
When the Elephants take on Guinea-Bissau at the Stade Olympique d’Ebimpé on Saturday night, a carnival atmosphere will engulf the stadium.
Ivorians are confident their array of Europe-based stars like Sebastian Haller, Simon Adingra and Franck Kessie can deliver glory on home soil.
An electric opening ceremony will further crank up the voltage inside the packed 60,000-seater arena in Abidjan.
But the AFCON passion is not confined to the Ivorian capital, with millions across Africa eagerly counting down to kick-off.
From fan parks in Senegal to crowded bars in Morocco, an entire continent is holding its breath in anticipation.
The next month will be enthralling ride for Africans as 24 finalists battle for continental supremacy.
But this weekend, all eyes are on Abidjan as Cote d’Ivoire prepares to host the world’s most thrilling sporting spectacle.
-CAF
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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