AFCON
AFTER THE SCARE, SUPER EAGLES SET FOR OPENING MATCH
BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE
Nigerians were rattled by news from the Super Eagles’ camp last night. While still grappling with the report that many players reacted adversely to the weather condition in Egypt, they also got a more disturbing one that Bordeaux forward Samuel Kalu collapsed in training. Exaggerated stories followed in torrents.
But it turned out that the 21-year-old Eagle suffered dehydration during training and had been confirmed okay after treatment.
The Super Eagles, three-time champions, are expected to put that scare behind them when they face Burundi this evening in Alexandria.
Although they created an earlier panic among their critical fans by losing their last friendly to Senegal 0-1, Gernot Rohr’s team shouldn’t sweat so much over Burundi, who are making their debut in the tournament.
Known as the Swallows in the War, Burundi were lined up against Mali, Gabon and South Sudan in Group C of the qualifiers and managed to win two matches and drew the remaining four to pick Egypt 2019 ticket behind Mali.
Their unbeaten run in that phase should however send danger signals to the Super Eagles and other teams in Group B of this AFCON. Burundi lost their last friendly to Tunisia 1-2 after playing Algeria 1-1.
In the other fixture of the group, Guinea will go up against another debutante Madagascar, the country of CAF President Ahmad.
The farthest Guinea had travelled in Africa’s No 1 tournament was being runners-up when Morocco lifted the crown in Ethiopia 1976 following a final phase round-robin that also involved Nigeria (bronze medalists) and Egypt.
Despite boasting an unbeaten run in the qualifiers (won 3, drawn 3) in a group that paraded log leaders Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde Islands and Rwanda, Guinea lost their last two friendlies: 0-1 to Benin Republic and 1-3 to Egypt.
Madagascar were among the first set of qualifiers for Egypt 2019. In Group A with the continent’s highest rated side Senegal, the Barea proved they are up to the task winning three of the six matches after coming through the preliminary round by beating São Tomé e Príncipe 4-2 aggregate.
In the friendlies for AFCON 2019 however, Madagascar lost two of the three matches (0-1 to Kenya and 1-3 to Mauritania) and forced Luxembourg to 3-3 stalemate.
In Group A, one of the 10 former champions on parade in Egypt 2019, DR Congo will step out against Uganda to start the campaign to win the title for the third time.
The last two times (as Zaire in 1968 and 1974) had been so long away that the present generation of football fans might have forgotten.
In the buildup to this tournament, the Congolese played two friendlies, each ending in deadlock: goalless against Burkina Faso and 1-1 versus Kenya.
With hosts Egypt the next opponents after this match, coach Jean-Florent Ibenge and his squad will like to make the best of this opening fixture.
Uganda’s best performance in this competition is being runners-up way back in 1978 when Ghana hosted and won the title for the third time.
The Cranes may however prove ready this time going by their run in the qualifiers for Egypt 2019.
Uganda posted one of the most inspiring statistics – four wins out of six matches with just one defeat to Tanzania, coached by ex-Nigerian international Emmanuel Amuneke.
Since concluding the qualifiers, Uganda had featured in the COSAFA Cup, the annual tournament for Southern African national teams organised by Council of Southern Africa Football Associations.
They lost 4-5 to Lesotho and 2-4 to South Africa, both via penalties. Last Saturday however, the Cranes beat Côte d’Ivoire by a lone goal in their last friendly before Egypt 2019 commences.
Today’s fixtures…
Group A:
- DR Congo v Uganda (3:30pm)
Group B:
- Nigeria v Burundi (6pm)
- Guinea v Madagascar (9pm)
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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