AFCON
Our Beat, Our Gold: How Goldberg Turned AFCON 2025 Into a Shared Nigerian Journey
As the lights dimmed on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Goldberg Lager Beer also drew the curtain on its AFCON journey not with disappointment, but with pride, gratitude and a strengthened belief in the future of Nigerian football.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles ended their campaign on the podium, claiming the bronze medal after edging Egypt on penalties in the third-place match. It was Nigeria’s ninth third-place finish at the AFCON finals. It is a record that further underlines the country’s reputation as the most consistent team in the history of the competition, with more podium appearances than any other African nation.
The ultimate target was a fourth continental crown, but that remained just out of reach. But for Goldberg, AFCON 2025 was never a story defined solely by silverware. It was a narrative of character, resilience and the enduring relationship between the national team and its vast, passionate support base.
Football, culture and a shared rhythm
Driven by its “Our Beat, Our Gold” campaign, Goldberg Lager Beer followed the Super Eagles throughout the tournament, turning AFCON 2025 into a shared national experience. Across Nigeria, viewing centres and cultural activations transformed match days into communal festivals of colour, sound and emotion. Beyond the country’s borders, fan-engagement activities in Moroccan host cities ensured that Nigeria’s green-and-white presence travelled with the team.
The Nigerian Breweries team, led by Head of Marketing Communications, Sandra Amachree, and Senior Brand Manager, Goldberg Lager Beer, Kunle Aroyehun, pose with brand influencers Broda Shaggi, Shaffy Bello and others during one of Goldberg’s numerous fan-engagement activities at the recently concluded AFCON 2025 in Rabat, Morocco.
On the pitch, the Super Eagles matched that energy with an expressive and confident brand of football. Nigeria finished as the tournament’s most prolific attacking side, scoring 14 goals—more than any other team. They created the highest number of clear chances (27), dominated possession with an average of 66 per cent, and recorded the longest winning run of the competition with five consecutive victories.
To Goldberg, those numbers spoke to something deeper than results alone: belief, progress and intent.
Beyond the scoreboard
Reflecting on the campaign, Laolu Babalola, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager Brands at Nigerian Breweries Plc, said AFCON 2025 was about more than wins and losses.
“We set out believing in gold, and while the final prize did not come, the journey mattered,” Babalola said. “The Super Eagles played with confidence and purpose, and the fans responded with passion and loyalty. That connection is what this campaign was built around.”
Kunle Aroyehun, Senior Brand Manager, Goldberg, described the close of the tournament not as an ending, but as a moment of reflection.
“Our Beat, Our Gold was about how Nigerian’s experience football together,” he said. “From the first match to the last, the fans showed up with energy, belief and pride. The bronze medal adds to Nigeria’s rich AFCON history, but more importantly, it highlighted the strength of our football culture.”
Aroyehun reaffirmed Goldberg’s long-term commitment to the game and its supporters. “This campaign may be ending, but the rhythm continues. As long as Nigerians are watching football, debating, celebrating and believing, Goldberg will continue to stand with them.”
As AFCON 2025 slips into memory, Goldberg insists that what truly endures are the shared moments—the cheers, the drums, the conversations and the collective belief. In the final analysis, that spirit, the brand maintains, remains the real gold.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has praised Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for what he described as a powerful gesture of unity and reconciliation following the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters convicted over offences linked to the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement released on Saturday, Motsepe expressed deep appreciation on behalf of CAF’s 54 member associations, hailing the Moroccan monarch’s decision as a demonstration of football’s ability to foster peace and solidarity across the continent.
“I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF president said the pardon reflected Morocco’s enduring commitment to African unity and highlighted football’s growing role as a bridge between nations and cultures.
“CAF has consistently emphasised its commitment to utilise football to contribute to uniting our people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
“The pardon by His Majesty King Mohammed VI is an uplifting and motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide.”
Motsepe also revealed that during recent visits to both Morocco and Senegal, he had been struck by the deep historical and cultural bonds shared by the two countries.
“I was amazed and impressed when I was briefed about the historic and extensive ties between the people of Senegal and Morocco,” he added.
The statement further reinforced Morocco’s rising influence within African football, especially after successfully hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading football destinations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Motsepe also extended CAF’s best wishes to Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that the continent’s teams would perform strongly on the global stage.
Among the African nations mentioned were Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
JOIN THE SPORTS VILLAGE SQUARE CHANNEL ON:
https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
By Kunle Solaja.
Former African champions Algeria and Zambia are set for an early showdown after the release of the Group I fixtures for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria host Zambia on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, in what is expected to be one of the headline fixtures of the qualifying campaign, while Togo entertain Burundi in the group’s other opening tie.
The Desert Foxes are favourites to qualify, but Zambia’s growing consistency and Togo’s unpredictability could make the race highly competitive.
Algeria travel to Burundi on Matchday Two before facing Togo in back-to-back encounters across Matchdays Three and Four. Zambia also meet Burundi home and away during the same period.
The potentially decisive fixture comes on March 22, 2027, when Zambia host Algeria in a clash that could determine the final standings.
Group I Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Algeria vs Zambia
- Togo vs Burundi
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Zambia vs Togo
- Burundi vs Algeria
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Algeria vs Togo
- Zambia vs Burundi
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Togo vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Zambia
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Zambia vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Togo
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Togo vs Zambia
- Algeria vs Burundi
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
By Kunle Solaja.
African heavyweights Senegal will launch their quest for another Africa Cup of Nations appearance with a home clash against Mozambique in Group J of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Lions of Teranga, among the continent’s strongest teams in recent years, headline a group that also includes Sudan and Ethiopia.
Senegal host Mozambique on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, while Sudan tackle Ethiopia in the other opening encounter.
Senegal are strong favourites to dominate the group, but Sudan and Mozambique are expected to battle fiercely for qualification points.
The key fixtures may emerge in the double-header between Senegal and Sudan across Matchdays Three and Four, while Mozambique and Ethiopia also face each other home and away.
Senegal travel to Mozambique on Matchday Five before ending their campaign at home against Ethiopia on March 30, 2027.
Group J Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Sudan vs Ethiopia
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Mozambique vs Sudan
- Ethiopia vs Senegal
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Senegal vs Sudan
- Mozambique vs Ethiopia
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Sudan vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Mozambique
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Mozambique vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Sudan
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Sudan vs Mozambique
- Senegal vs Ethiopia
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Nigeria’s Olympic Foes Arrive After Incredible 30-0 Aggregate Rout of Sudan
Akwa Ibom Celebrates Taekwondo Gold Medallist Udobong After National Open Trials Triumph
Iranian World Cup players will be able to enter US the day before matches, DHS says
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- World Cup1 week ago
Attack-minded Ivorians bullish ahead of World Cup return
- World Cup6 days ago
Rema, Davido, Burna Boy and Ayra Starr Make FIFA’s Star-Studded World Cup 2026 Official Album
- World Cup5 days ago
FIFA bans vuvuzelas from World Cup stadiums
- World Cup5 days ago
Shakira to Headline FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony in Mexico
- International Football2 days ago
Eriksen Suffers Fresh Collapse During Denmark Friendly, Reviving Memories of Euro 2020 Ordeal
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Soname Rewards Flamingos with N4.5m Goal Bonus After Guinea Rout
- World Cup1 week ago
Behold! Nigeria’s Gift to the World Cup: 11 Stars, No Super Eagles
- World Cup3 days ago
Pelé’s 1970 World Cup Hideaway Becomes Tourist Attraction as Mexico Hosts Tournament for Record Third Time