AFCON
NIGERIA’S 1ST CHOICE GOALKEEPER, UZOHO BLASTS CRITICS OF HIS AGE DECLARATION
Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper to the last World Cup finals in Russia, Francis Uzoho, has slammed critics who have been skeptical of his young age with the national team.
According to Nigeria’s ThisDay newspaper, the lanky goalkeeper and favorite of Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, who was on Super Eagles Instagram live page, for the first time cleared air about his age controversy said it was his rapid growth compared to when he was with the Golden Eaglet could be the main reason why the controversy about his age was in contention within the country’s football community.
The player had passed the mandatory age test conducted by FIFA at the U17 World Youth Championship using the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Machine (MRI), which is the only rational proof of true age of all participants at international aged grade tournaments.
“As at 2013 when he was reserve goalkeeper to Dele Alampasu, my physical growth was actually very little and as a matter of fact, Dele was taller than me but few years later my physical growth was rapid which is now a huge advantage for me to when I’m between the sticks as it enables me to cover the range as much as possible,” he explained.
The recuperating goalkeeper was even third choice keeper at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup won by Nigeria. His football career hit the pinnacle when the Franco/German tactician, Rohr, preferred him as the best replacement for Carl Ikeme to the World Cup finals where Nigeria finished third in the group behind Croatia and Argentina.
“It’s very embarrassing when your fellow country men make slanting remark to a man defending the honour of the nation.
“I did my best worked for the team and very proud of all the players to the tournament but most critics thing my best wasn’t enough and was part of the reason why the age issue came up.
“No grudge anyway because football is life to us in this part of the world and I can understand the frustration and emotion of teeming Nigerian football fans as well,” he remarked on Super Eagles’ Instagram live interview.
Uzoho however regained his number one choice when the coach picked him for the classification match against Tunisia which Nigeria won to win bronze medal at the last AFCON finals in Egypt.
His brilliant show in the international friendly match against Brazil last October was the last outing for the national team following a career threatening injury in the match and he is expected to be back to action soon.
On his club career, the 22 year old said he will return to Deportivo La Coruna at the end of his loan spell with Omonia Nicosia.
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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