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With 34 Days To Start Morocco 2025 Afcon Prelims, Fixtures Not Yet Out –

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With 34 Days To Start Morocco 2025 Afcon Prelims, Fixtures Not Yet Out -

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The preliminary round of the qualifying series for Morocco 20225 Africa Cup of Nations is expected to begin on 18 March.

But as a departure from tradition, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) did not release the fixtures for the qualifying series of the next edition as Cote d’Ivoire 2025 came to a close on Sunday night.

In the past, the draws were conducted during a running final series. For instance, that of the one just concluded was conducted and released on 21 January 2022 in Douala as the Cameroon 2021 was on.

The draw for the qualification series for Cameroon 2021 was conducted during Egypt 2019 on 18 July 2019 in Cairo just like that of Egypt 2019 was conducted on 12 January 2017 during Gabon 2017.

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A day after the final match of Cote d’Ivoire 2023, it is already 34 days to the start of the preliminary competition of the next edition. The opponents don’t know themselves.

The next available international window is that of March 18 to 26 where teams can play just two matches. The June window is already dedicated to the World Cup qualification.

 

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.

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Nigeria apologises to Libya for football incident, claims Libyan newspaper

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Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar

A newspaper in Libya, Libya Observer has reported that the Nigerian government has apologised to Libya over the botched Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match which could have been held on Tuesday evening.

The publication has it that “in a recent phone call with the east-based government Foreign Minister Abdelhadi Al-Huwaij, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar extended an official apology to the Libyan government and its people for a recent incident involving the Libyan national football team.”

The publication is illustrated with a photograph of the Nigerian minister holding a mobile telephone to his right ear.

According to Libya Observer, “the apology followed growing tensions after a controversial decision by Nigeria’s Football Federation to refuse participation in a scheduled Africa Cup of Nations qualifier return match.”

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It further reported that the Libyan Foreign Ministry claimed that the Nigerian Foreign Minister Tuggar “expressed deep regret, clarifying that the incident was neither intentional nor a deliberate act by the Nigerian government.

“He emphasized Nigeria’s respect for Libya and its people, assuring that the matter was an unfortunate oversight.

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The report further claimed that in response, the Libyan minister, Al-Huwaij “reassured his Nigerian counterpart that Libya had ensured the well-being of the Nigerian delegation, providing full logistical and technical support to facilitate their safe return home.

“He also highlighted the longstanding and strong ties between the two nations, underscoring their commitment to maintaining friendly relations.

The Libyan Football Federation had earlier condemned the actions of the Nigerian Football Federation, accusing it of refusing to participate in the return leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Libya Observer reported that Libya’s football authorities have vowed to take all necessary steps to safeguard the interests of their national team in response to the incident.

But another Tripoli-based publication, Libyan Express, highlighted that the Libyan team to a lesser extent also experienced problems travelling to Nigeria and concluded: “It also emphasises the need for clear communication and mutual respect between participating nations to ensure fair play and the well-being of all athletes.”

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African Union wades into Libya-Nigeria deadlocked football match

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A newspaper in Libya, Almashhad has reported that the African Union officials have contacted Libyan and Nigerian authorities after being notified that the Nigerian football team and officials were stuck at an airport to which they had been directed by authorities in Libya.

Now, a nine-man Disciplinary Board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is currently investigating all circumstances before acting against parties proven to have violated CAF’s regulations and laws

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Libya’s AFCON dreams go up in flames!

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The hopes of Libya securing a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ticket seem to have gone up in smoke.  This is the sequel to the 2-1 defeat that Rwanda inflicted on the Benin Republic on Tuesday evening.

With the result, Libya’s position is further cemented at the bottom of the table. Nigeria, even with an outstanding match, still leads with seven points.

They are followed by Benin Republic who have six points. Rwanda followed with five points.

The star men were  Innocent Nshuti and Djihad Bizimana  who scored in the space of two minutes as Rwanda came from behind to defeat Benin 2-1 at Amahoro Stadium on Tuesday, October 15.

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