AFCON
Diversity Of AFCON Squads – French Ligue 1 And Premier League Dominate –
- French Ligue 1 – 61 players
- Premier League– 31 players
- Saudi Pro League– 25 players
- Germany Bundesliga – 17 players
- Italia Serie A– 15 players
- Egypt/South Africa– 30 -players
- NPL – 1 player
Excitement is buzzing around the continent as the biggest gathering of African football’s powerhouses takes place at the Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023.
Players plying their trade across the top leagues in Europe, Africa and Asia will fight for national pride and bragging rights.
In this article by CAFOnline, we look at the diversity of the squads for the 24 qualified countries.
A total of 628 players will be representing the 24 qualified countries in the AFCON.
The French Ligue 1 dominates with a total of 61 players playing in the topflight. Key amongst them include PSG defender, Achraf Hakimi and Ghana captain, Andre Ayew, who plays for Le Havre.
Led by Mohammed Salah, thirty-one players are joining from the Premier League and could have been more if not for injuries to Thomas Partey and Wilfred Ndidi among others.
Clubs in the Saudi Pro League have made the list due to the recent exodus of some of the continent’s top talents from Europe to Saudi Arabia. There are twenty-five including the likes of Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez and Kalidou Koulibally.
Spain and Germany are also well represented at the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON. The La Liga has 22 while the Bundesliga has 17.
Reigning Africa footballer of the year, Victor Osimhen lead a tall list of Italian Serie A players to the tournament. A little over 15 players from Italy’s topflight are in Côte d’Ivoire for the AFCON.
In Africa’s domestic leagues, the AFCON has found a treasure trove of talents. Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Ahly and Orlando Pirates dominate the list. The three clubs combined contributed 30 players, thanks to the qualification of South Africa and Egypt.
Simba SC, Young Africans, FC Nouadhibou and Angola’s, Atlético Petróleos de Luanda also have a share of the overall talent representation at the CAF AFCON.
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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