AFCON
AUSTIN EJIDE YEARNS FOR RECALL TO SUPER EAGLES
Approaching his 36th birthday, Austin Ejide still believes he can still make a return to the Nigerian national football team as a goalkeeper.
According to BBC report, Ejide said he is in the best form of his career as he began his bid for a Nigeria recall six years after his last appearance.
Sports Village Square recalls that Ejide became the second player to take part in three World Cup editions (2002, 2010 and 2014) without playing a single minute, taking after Croatia’s Anthony Seric (1998, 2002 and 2006).
His dream of staging a return stems from the recurring goalkeeping headache that has bedeviled the Super Eagles since the international retirement of Vincent Enyeama and the sudden retirement of his successor, Carl Ikeme, owing to ailment.
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The goalkeeping puzzle was further compounded when Coach Gernot Rohr’s preferred first choice, Francis Uzoho picked an injury in an encounter with Brazil some months ago.
Maduka Okoye, who was his substitute is regarded as lacking in experience while both Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa have been displaying fluctuating forms.
Ejide shot into prominence when Coach Adegboye Onigbinde picked him in the build up to the 2002 World Cup after a surprised disbandment of the Super Eagles following a players’ mutiny at the Africa Cup of Nations in Mali.
A year before then, he was a substitute for Sunday Rotimi in Nigeria’s 2-0 away win against Namibia in Windhoek in a June 16, 2001 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
At the moment, the 35-year-old, Ejide has reportedly played all 21 matches for Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Hadera this season. But he last featured for the Super Eagles in a 2-3 home loss to Congo in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifier.
It was the first time Nigeria lost at home in a competitive match in 33 years. “I know the situation in Nigeria. I get positive remarks in Israel and being rated highly could be something that will pave the way,” Ejide told BBC Sport.
“I’ve kept nine clean sheets this season and we all know that goalkeepers always get better with age.
“I’ve also been following the Eagles and I believe that with my consistent performances in Israel, there is every chance it opens the door to the possibilities of another call-up.”
“I can never shut the international door to play for Nigeria again, I believe I have what it takes to get another chance,” he insisted.
He also says his age should not be a barrier to a return to international football.
“There are other goalkeepers who never gave up on international football despite their age or being overlooked,” he insisted.
“At 46, Essam El-Hadary still played a major tournament for Egypt and I can hopefully follow in that footsteps.
“I keep focusing on club football here, the more I do well, then I will continue to retain that hope of playing for my country again.”
Ejide has become a cult hero in Hadera after helping Hapoel Hadera to Israeli top flight promotion in 2018 ending their 39 years in the lower leagues.
He previously played in the country for Hapoel Petah Tikva and Hapoel Be’er Sheva between 2009 and 2015, but that was after a stint at Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel where he suffered two successive Caf Champions League final defeats in 2004 and 2005.
He left the North African country after the Tunisian FA decided not to allow local clubs to sign foreign goalkeepers.
Ejide then spent three years at French club SC Bastia before moving to Israel in 2009. He was part of the Nigeria squad to the Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and when they won in 2013.
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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