AFCON
ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST RENAMING OF ONIKAN STADIUM; WHICH STRONG TEAM WILL NIGERIA DRAW AT AFCON 2019 POT 2?
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
It is 67 years this Friday when the premier football ground in Nigeria, the Onikan Stadium, Lagos was first renamed from its original name, The Association Ground.
On this day in 1952, the arena, which was the first home ground of the Nigerian national football team was renamed as King George V (KGV) to mark the coronation of the England monarch.
It is therefore a coincidence that the Nigerian team will draw its Africa Cup of Nations’ opponents on this occasion in Egypt.
Technically, the strongest of the three opponents of the Super Eagles is expected to come from Pot 2. The second level ranked pot hasDR Congo, Ghana, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Algeria.
One of these six teams will belong to the same group with the Super Eagles. The draw at the famous Pyramids of Egypt will determine which team.
But significantly, none of the six is strange to the Nigerian side across all competitions, especially the Africa Cup of Nations.
Only Guinea has never fallen in the same group with Nigeria even though both met at the second round of the 1976 edition in Ethiopia. The encounter ended 1-1, no thanks to the last minute equalizer by Papa Camara after Muda Lawal’s early second half goal.
Nigeria and DR Congo (then Zaire) met at Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, in the opening Group B encounter in 1976. Nigeria, then the underdogs, shocked the defending champions with a 4-2 defeat.
Both met again at the Senegal ’92 quarter finals and that of Tunisia ’94. Nigeria triumphed at both matches. Thus, DR Congo has never beaten Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Ghana, another team in Pot 2, is Nigeria’s eternal football rival. Both were in the same Group A at Ghana ’78 and Group B at Cote d’Ivoire 1984.
The first match ended 1-1 in Accra while Nigeria under Chief Adegboye Onigbinde shocked Ghana, 2-1 as defending champions in 1984. The two teams met again in the semi-finals of Senegal ’92 when Ghana avenged the 1984 defeat.
They were at it again at Ghana 2008 second round encounter in which Ghana again triumphed. But before then, Nigeria eliminated Ghana at the quarterfinals of Mali 2002. Both teams clashed again at Angola 2010 semi-finals and Ghana won 1-0.
Mali was in the same Group A at Mali 2002 ending the tie goalless. When they met again at the third place match, Nigeria won 1-0. Nigeria won again 2-1 at the losers’ final match of Tunisia 2004 before a goalless outing at the group stage of Ghana 2008.
The Super Eagles had a massive 4-1 win when both met again at the semi finals of South Africa 2013. So, Mali has never beaten Nigeria in Africa Cup finals’ history!
Cote d’Ivoire was the only team that Nigeria did not beat on the way to winning the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations. Both team played goalless. But when met 10 years later in the same Group A of the continental premier competition, Nigeria won 1-0.
In the march to success at the Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire was the Super Eagles’ last stepping stone to the final, winning 4-2 on penalties after 2-2 score lines at regulation and extra time.
But in 2006 competition in Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire had a revenge of 1-0 in the semi finals and repeated the same at the group stage of 2008 in Sekondi, Ghana. When both met at the quarterfinals of South Africa 2013, Nigeria had a soul-lifting 2-1 win, which sustained the Stephen Keshi-coached side to the ultimate victory in the final. From Pot 2, which team is preferred to be in Nigeria’s group. You can drop your comment ahead of the draw.
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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