AFCON
Africa Cup 2019 Qualifiers Enter Fast Lane
The qualifying series of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations enter into the fast lane this weekend as 24 matches are on the card this week. The competition which preliminary began in March when six matches were played has now entered the group stage.
Coincidentally, the actions begin in Group E featuring Nigeria, South Africa, Libya and Seychelles.
Even though the attentions have largely been on the big fixture, Nigeria hosting South Africa, the series actually begin this Friday with the Libya versus Seychelles fixture which will be played at the same time with the Group A match pairing Sudan against visiting Madagascar.
This weekend’s matches are the only ones to be played this year as Match Day 2 will be in September next year. That will be 15 months from now and after the conclusion of next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.
By the time the qualifying series are concluded in November 2018, 150 matches would have been played, including the six earlier played in March.
Fifteen teams will qualify to join the hosts, Cameroon from the 51 entries for the competition. Only two CAF affiliates, Eritrea and Somalia did not enter.
Also, the Chad team was thrown out for the withdrawal from the qualifying series of the 2017 edition. The premature withdrawal technically threw Nigeria out of the competition following Egypt’s unassailable lead as Nigeria’s earlier defeat of Chad was annulled.
This weekend’s Fixtures
FRIDAY
Group E: Libya vs Seychelles (22:00 hours)
Group A: Sudan vs Madagascar (22:00 hours)
SATURDAY
Group B: Malawi vs Comoros (14:30 hours)
Group C: Burundi vs South Sudan (15: 00 hours)
Group B: Cameroon vs Morocco (15:00 hours)
Group K: Zambia vs Mozambique (15:00 hours)
Group I: Botswana vs. Mauritania (15:30 hours)
Group J: Niger vs Swaziland (16:00 hours)
Group K: Guinea-Bissau vs Namibia (16:00 hours)
Group F: Sierra Leone vs Kenya (16: 30 hours)
Group L: Cape Verde vs Uganda (16:30 hours)
Group E: Nigeria vs South Africa (17: 00 hours)
Group 1: Burkina Faso vs Angola (18:00 hours)
Group G: RD Congo vs Congo (18:30 hours)
Group C: Mali vs Gabon (19:00 hours)
Group A: Senegal vs Equatorial Guinea (20:00 hours)
Group L: Tanzania vs Lesotho (20:00 hours)
Group H: Cote d’Ivoire vs Guinea (20:00 hours)
SUNDAY
Group G: Zimbabwe vs Liberia (15:00 hours)
Group H: Central African Republic vs Rwanda (15:00 hours)
Group F: Ghana vs Ethiopia (15:30 hours)
Group D: Benin vs Gambia (16:00 hours)
Group D: Algeria vs Togo (22:00 hours)
Group J: Tunisia vs Egypt (23:00 hours)
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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