AFCON
LESOTHO COACH, THABO SENONG SHUTS OUT FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS FROM NIGERIAN MATCH
Lesotho national football team, Likuena, will be fielding entirely locally sourced players when they engage Nigeria in this Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie at Setsoto Stadiumin Maseru.
Sports Village Square gathered from Sunday Express of Lesotho that Coach Thabo Senong, a former Bafana Bafana assistant coach, remarked that Lesotho internationals plying their trade in the United States of America should wait for their chance to represent the country.
They are out of the match with Nigeria. The newspaper explained further that the coach argued that if he were to bring in the US based players into the squad, the team would need a long time to gel.
Likuena has struggled to score and managed an added time goal in their last week 1-1 draw with Sierra Leone. The newspaper quoted Senong as saying that US based attackers, Napo Matsoso and Tšotleho Jane who play for Louisville City in the United Soccer League (USL) will have their time.
Both players have been enjoying good runs helping the side come fourth in their 18-team league.
“The US based boys will get their chance when we have enough time to prepare to allow them to gel with the team,” Senong said.
“The current camp is not long enough to integrate many new players. The US based players are not always available as you might think, their football programme is combined with academic studies. Lesia (Thetsane) has even explained to me that he won’t be available due to his study schedules.”
However, Senong says they are leaving no stone unturned as they want to ensure that their players are ready for the upcoming matches.
Senong said they had an analyst who helped to analyse their team during the TS Galaxy friendly.
“In my opinion there is a lot of progress. We played TS Galaxy on Wednesday and we recruited an analyst to analyse our game and give us feedback so that we can build on it going into the two matches.
While some players have shown signs of fatigue, Senong said they have a good recovery plan.
“We have a good recovery plan. We have recruited two masseurs to massage the players.”
The former Bafana Bafana assistant coach also defended his selection of some fringe players in his team.
“The call-ups are on merit and they are in relation to their club form, their quality, experience in playing continental football and their understanding of our style of play. The door is open for every player in the Likuena setup, our challenge is the limited time that we have to improve the team’s cohesion and tactical relationships.
“Tumelo Khutlang has been with the team in the past three months, he is very talented and he needs our support, I believe in him, he is a talented individual who can change a game for us,” Senong said.
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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