AFCON
ALGERIAN TORMENTOR OF SUPER EAGLES, RIYAD MAHREZ IS LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE STAR TARGETED BY THIEVES
Riyad Mahrez whose right flank cross William Ekong-Troost deflated in as an own goal in the nerve-wrecking semi-final clash at the Africa Cup of Nations last July and who also scored an expertly taken free kick at added time, has become the latest victim of burglary incidents targeted against Premiership players.
According to UK’s Daily Mail, Mahrez who plays for Manchester City has had three luxury watches stolen during a £500,000 raid at his penthouse.
The haul included a prized Richard Mille timepiece similar to one that knife thugs snatched from England star Dele Alli’s house two weeks ago.
Thieves broke into Mahrez’s luxury block and got hold of a key fob to gain access.
On top of the £230,000 Mille, the Man City star lost a £40,000 Rolex Daytona and a £35,000 Rolex Day Date.
The gang also stole more than £50,000 in cash, Cartier bracelets and rare football shirts worth up to £150,000.
Milles cost up to £1.6million and are a favourite with the rich and top sports stars.
They are known for their precious stones and are made from the same material as space shuttles and F1 cars.
Ed Sheeran, Kanye West and Neymar all own different designs.
Burglars carefully tracked Mahrez before sneaking into his Manchester City centre apartment.
A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said of the raid on Mahrez: ‘At around 5pm on Friday April 24, police were called to reports that four separate apartments had been burgled at a city centre block.’
This comes after Alli was held at knifepoint and punched after robbers broke into his house earlier this month.
As Sportsmail exclusively revealed, the Tottenham and England midfielder was thumped in the face during the ordeal but did not suffer serious injury.
Two males wearing balaclavas broke into the back of Alli’s north London property just after midnight on May 13 before threatening the Spurs star — who has been isolating with his brother Harry Hickford, their two partners and a long-term friend.
Alli’s team-mates Jan Vertonghan had his home robbed in March while he was playing for Spurs in Germany.
At the beginning of the year, Crystal Palace’s Mamadou Sakho lost more than £500,000 of items in a burglary.
Leicester City star Hamza Choudhury became the latest Premier League footballer to invest in guard dogs earlier this month to heighten security.
Several footballers have now beefed up their security by using firm Chaperone K9 after Alli was robbed at knifepoint.
Aston Villa‘s Jack Grealish spent £25,000 on a Belgian Malinois and Choudhury has splashed out £50,000 on the same breed and a German Shepherd, according to The Sun.
K9 have already supplied dogs to Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford as well as former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.
The highly-trained dogs come from police and military backgrounds and cost between £10,000 and £25,000 each.
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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