AFCON
TODAY IN HISTORY: FATHER TIKO, NIGERIA ‘S YUGOSLAVIAN COACH DIES
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
On this date, 1 July 1986, one of Nigeria’s most successful and charismatic coach, Jelisavicic Tihomir-Tiko, popularly known as ‘Father Tiko’ died, aged 57.
He coached the then Green Eagles in the 1970s and took the team to the last qualifying point for the Argentina ’78 World Cup before an own-goal by hitherto reliable Godwin Odiye, ended the dream.
Sadly it was almost at the occasion of a World Cup tournament that the Yugoslavian died. He had been part of the Mexico ’86 World Cup as an observer. But two days after the tournament, he was heading to Cancum in Mexico to take up a new coaching appointment before an automobile accident took his life.
He was the Green Eagles’ coach at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations in Ethiopia where he surpassed Nigeria’s previous efforts by taken the team to the second runners-up position.
He achieved the same position at the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana, but was relegated to the Flying Eagles in the late 1989 when the National Sports Commission signed on a Brazilian, Otto Gloria to guide the Green Eagles to the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.
For the records, he is the third coach with most matches for the Nigerian national team. Under him from 1975 to 1978, Nigeria had 45 matches, ranking him behind four-term Amodu Shaibu (53 matches) and Clemens Westerhof (52 matches).
In terms of duration, he stayed longest among all the foreign coaches Nigeria ever had, as he stay in the country was for eight years even though he handled the then Green Eagles for only three years.
He was also the most widely travelled in Nigeria among those in his ilk as moved from one match venue to the other in search of talents in the then National League.
The legendry Nigerian speedy winger, Segun Odegbami once told the story of how Father Tiko switched him from the inside left position to the right wing just days before a Nigeria versus Sierra Leone World Cup qualifiers in October 1976.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Super Eagles for their impressive performance in the 4–0 victory over Benin Republic, praising the team for keeping Nigeria’s qualification hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Adebayo Onanuga, the President lauded the players for their “hunger, passion, and determination” during the crucial qualifier in Uyo, describing their display as one that has “reignited Nigerians’ football pride.”
“While the job is not yet complete, I join millions of Nigerian football fans in wishing our team every success in the playoffs,” Tinubu said. “The mood across the country reflects a shared belief that Nigeria deserves a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada, Mexico, and the United States will host.”
Reaffirming the government’s backing, President Tinubu assured the players and coaching crew of full Federal Government support as they prepare for the decisive play-off stage.
“Nigerians everywhere believe in you, and I do too,” he said. “We look forward to seeing you fly our flag proudly on the world stage.”
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The Organizing Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 has announced a strong start to ticket sales, confirming that 58,000 tickets had been sold as of Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
According to an official update, the enthusiasm for the continental showpiece has also been reflected on the Yalla App, where 145,731 applications have been received so far. In addition, a total of 121,924 FAN IDs have been issued, including 31,058 belonging to foreign nationals representing 108 countries around the world.
In response to the overwhelming demand, the committee disclosed that technical teams are working round the clock to enhance the ticketing and FAN ID systems to ensure smooth processing for fans.
To assist applicants and ensure better communication, the organizers have provided a dedicated customer service line: +212 5 30 30 20 30. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in Arabic, English, and French, and is staffed by over 600 agents trained to respond to inquiries and provide user support.
Fans can also reach the support team via email at info@yallamorocco.ma.
The Organizing Committee expressed gratitude to supporters, media representatives, delegations, and partners for their enthusiasm and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a seamless and memorable experience for all stakeholders during AFCON Morocco 2025.
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Ticket sales for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 will officially open on Monday, 13 October 2025, with an exclusive 48-hour pre-sale window reserved for Visa cardholders, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced.
Fans across Africa and around the world will be able to secure their seats for what promises to be the continent’s biggest football spectacle, which will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
The special Visa pre-sale period will run from Monday, 13 October at 09:00 Moroccan time (08:00 GMT) until Wednesday, 15 October at 08:00 GMT, before general ticket sales open to all fans using other payment methods.
To streamline ticket purchases and enhance security, the Local Organizing Committee has launched the YALLA App, an integrated digital platform for fans to obtain their Fan ID — a mandatory requirement for buying tickets — and apply for E-Visas (AEVM) where necessary.
According to organizers, each registered Fan ID allows supporters to buy only one ticket per match, ensuring wider access and transparency in ticket distribution.
The process for obtaining tickets is straightforward:
- Download the YALLA App, available on Google Play and the App Store.
- Apply for a Fan ID and E-Visa (if required) through the app.
- Once approved, Visa cardholders can visit tickets.cafonline.com starting from Monday, 13 October at 09:00 Moroccan time (08:00 GMT) to purchase their AFCON 2025 tickets.
The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is expected to deliver a festival of football and culture, with fans urged to complete their Fan ID registration early to avoid last-minute rushes.
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