AFCON
Angola shock Ghana in Cup of Nations qualifying
Angola produced the first shock of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as they snatched a last-minute goal to win away against Ghana in one of seven matches played around the continent on Thursday.
Former African champions Algeria and Tunisia both won at home, while there was also success for Burundi, the Central African Republic, Congo and Guinea Bissau as teams began the group phase competition to decide the line-up for the finals in Morocco in December next year.
Angolan substitute Milson took advantage of a defensive blunder to score three minutes into stoppage time in the Group F clash in Kumasi.
Angola had held out against a strong Ghana side, with Mohammed Kudus threatening to find the net as he led home hopes but ultimately proved unable.
Burundi’s 3-2 win in Malawi in Group L marked a rare away success for the small east African country, with Mokono Eldinho snatching their 87th minute winner.
Riyad Mahrez returned to the Algeria line-up against Equatorial Guinea in Oran after being dropped for their June World Cup qualifiers and squandered a first half penalty. But his rasping shot some 20 minutes from time allowed Houssem-Eddine Aouar to snap up the rebound, bending down low to power home a header for the opening goal of the Group E encounter. Amine Gouiri added a second near the end.
Tunisia scrambled a goal eight minutes into stoppage time to overcome Madagascar in their Group A clash as veteran coach Faouzi Benzerti, 74, returned to the helm of the team 30 years after his first appointment.
American-based midfielder Bura got Guinea Bissau’s winner over Eswatini in Group I while there was also a 1-0 home win for Congo over South Sudan in Group K, where the only goal came early from Chandrel Massanga.
The Central African Republic overcame the lack of home advantage to beat Lesotho 3-1 in El Jadida, Morocco. They are among the many African countries who may not host qualifiers because their stadia have been declared unsuitable for use in international matches.
Louis Mafouta, who got a hat-trick in World Cup qualifying three months ago, scored two of the Central African Republic’s goals.
The top two teams in each of the 12 groups qualify for the next finals. There will be two sets of qualifiers per team in this international window followed by two more in October and the last two in November, after which the field for the finals will be decided.
-Reuters
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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