AFCON
Namibian Player Who Once Featured Against Nigeria Is Afcon 2023 Youngest Coach –
Namibia who will open the eight-match series of the Round of 16 of the current Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday have already etched themselves into the record books. They picked their place in the knock-out stage for the first time after a 0-0 draw with Mali.
This Saturday, they face Angola in what is their first ever knock-out stage encounter in the Africa Cup of Nations history.
Their historical journey is anchored on coach Collin Benjamin who at 45 is the youngest coach among the 24 that began the race.
Benjamin had a prominent career as a professional footballer, spending most of his playing days with German club Hamburger SV while representing Namibia on the international stage.
He was in the Namibian team beaten 4-0 by Nigeria in an African Cup qualifier in Lagos. Inform Victor Ikpeba score an hattrick in the match.
He notably featured as a defender in Namibia’s national team squad during the 2008 African Cup of Nations, earning 32 caps and serving as the team’s captain for several years.
After a decade at Hamburg, Benjamin concluded his playing career in Germany with 1860 Munich, transitioning into the club’s coaching set-up.
In June 2022, he was appointed as the head coach of the Namibia national team.
“Collin Benjamin is one of the youngest and most talented coaches in the tournament,” remarked Namibia and Orlando Pirates midfielder Deon Hotto in an interview with CAF online.
“Having played his entire career at the highest level in Germany, he brings valuable experience to our team. He is an approachable coach, always open to us. Working with him has been a marvelous experience due to his fresh ideas and great personality,” Hotto added.
The Namibia team are in the challenging Group E of the Africa Cup of Nations, alongside Mali, South Africa, and Tunisia.
Their group stage campaign will kick off with a match against Tunisia on 16 January, followed by a game against South Africa five days later.
They will conclude the group stage by facing Mali on 24 January.
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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