AFCON
ZAMBIAN PLAYERS THE OLYMPIC EAGLES HAVE TO WATCH!
When Nigeria meet Zambia on Tuesday November 12 in the quest for a ticket for the football event of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, there are three players the Nigerian Olympic Eagles have to watch.
The match is also part of the U23 Africa Cup of Nations. The Nigerians are the title-holders. In the quest for a title defence, they have to be successful in the Group B which also habours Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa.
The Zambian players to watch are:
Fashion Sakala
Date of Birth: March 14, 1997
Club: KV Oostende (Belgium)
Position: Forward
Sakala was Zambia’s top scorer in the qualifiers with five goals. He is a graduate of the 2017 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations winning team, and also featured at the FIFA U-20 World Cup same year in Korea Republic, where he scored four goals as Zambia exited at the last eight.
He made his senior debut for Zambia in September 2017 in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Algeria that Chipolopolo won 3-1 in Lusaka.
This is Sakala’s second season at Oostende after two years at Spartak Moscow following his transfer from seven-time Zambian league champions Zanaco in 2017.
Enock Mwepu
Date of Birth: January 1, 1998
Club: RB Salzburg (Austria)
Position: Midfielder
Mwepu joined Austrian champions, RB Salzburg, in mid-2017 from Zambian second-tier side Lusaka Celtic following domestic loan stints at Napsa Stars and Power Dynamos.
He is also a U-20 Africa Cup of Nations winner in 2017 and quarter-finalists at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The left-footed midfielder scored two goals in the qualifiers, a brace in a 3-3 away draw against Congo-Brazzaville on 9 September in the final round.
He is not only the fulcrum of the Zambia U-23 team but also the senior national team first choice playmaker, scoring on his debut in a 3-1 win over Algeria in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Lusaka in September 2017.
Patson Daka
Date of Birth: October 9, 1998
Club: RB Salzburg (Austria)
Position: Forward
Daka, like club-mate Enock Mwepu, is originally from second-tier Zambian club Lusaka Celtic and spent over three seasons on loan at Power Dynamos before moving to Europe in late 2016 to join Salzburg.
He won the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 2017, where he emerged Most Valuable Player of the competition.
The forward scored one goal in the qualifiers in the 3-3 away draw against Congo at the final round.
He has been a member of the Zambia senior national team since 2015. His claim to fame came on 5 September 2017 after scoring the only goal as the Chipolopolo beat Algeria 1-0 in Constantine in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
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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