AFCON
WITH NIGERIA’S 5-STAR PERFORMANCE, AFCON U-23 FIELD IS COMPLETED
The roll call for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2019 is done and dusted after the final round of matches of the qualifiers on Tuesday.
Host Egypt will be joined by Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia for the final tournament scheduled for 8-22 November in Cairo, where the top three finishers will qualify to represent Africa at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Of the octet, host Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa are the only teams to have participated at every edition of the quadrennial championships since its inception in 2011.
Nigeria were champions at the last edition in Senegal in 2015, whilst Senegal finished third, which also had Mali and Zambia. Ghana, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire have qualified for the finals for the first time.
Away joy for quintet
It was victory away from home for the quintet of Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, South Africa and Zambia who coughed out impressive outings to secure their tickets.
After a narrow 1-0 win from the first leg in Yaounde last week, Cameroon went down 2-1 to Tunisia in Tunis, but advanced via the away goal rule after a 2-2 tie on aggregate. Les Lions U-23, guided by legendary Cameroonian captain Rigobert Song, took the lead courtesy Ignatius Ganago from the spot after 15 minutes.
The Tunisians leveled through Wajdi Salhi midway before Habib Oueslati netted the winner on 71 minutes but fell short of taking the North Africans through.
In Conakry, Italy-based duo Christian Kouame and Hamed Junior found target n either half as Cote d’Ivoire overcame a lone goal in the reverse in Abidjan to edge Guinea on away goals after a 2-2 tie. Moussa Traore scored in between for Guinea.
Ghana’s Black Meteors confirmed their place at the finals for the first time after shocking Algeria to a 1-0 win away in Setif. Captain Yaw Yeboah scored the only goal late in the game as the West Africans went through 2-1 on aggregate.
After a huge 5-0 win in the first leg, South Africa held Zimbabwe to a barren in Bulawayo to make it three out of three finals, thanks to a 5-0 aggregate win.
Elsewhere in Brazzaville, Zambia survived a scare from Congo to share the spoils with the latter in a 3-3 draw.
It was one-all at half time with Zambia’s Enock Mwepu canceling Guy Mbenza opener early in the game.
Fashion Sakala, who was sent off in the dying embers after second yellow card whilst on the bench gave the visitors the lead on 51 minutes before the Congolese scored twice through Temopele Medina and Gaius Makouta.
Mwepu completed his brace five minutes from time to stun the home crowd and ensure passage 5-4 on aggregate.
With defeat staring in their face after a lone goal loss in the first leg, Nigeria put up a five-star performance to sink Sudan 5-0 in Asaba and 5-1 on aggregate to make it a hat-trick of appearances at the finals.
Ndifreke Udo scored a first half brace before a goal each from Taiwo Awomiyi, Sunday Falaye and Seth Mayi sealed victory.
Mali’s young and enterprising squad kept alive their Olympic hopes after beating Morocco 1-0 in Bamako.
Aly Malle’s 56th minute penalty separated the two sides as Les Aiglons advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
Results
Sunday
- Brazzaville Congo 3-3 Zambia (1-2)
Tuesday
- Bulawayo Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa (0-5)
- Setif Algeria 0-1 Ghana (1-1)
- Tunis Tunisia 2-1 Cameroon (0-1)
- Conakry Guinea 1-2 Cote d’Ivoire (1-0)
- Asaba Nigeria 5-0 Sudan (0-1)
- Bamako Mali 1-0 Morocco (1-1)
Qualified teams: Egypt (host), Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia
-cafonline
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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