AFCON
ONIGBINDE GOES DOWN MEMORY LANE ON NIGERIA’S OUTING AT 1984 AFCON
Record-setting Chief Adegboye Onigbinde became the first indigenous coach to take the Super Eagles, then known as the Green Eagles, to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when he led the West African country to the finals in 1984 in Cote d’Ivoire.
Undoubtedly one of the greatest coaches to come out of the continent, Onigbinde, now 82, reminisces with fond memories his journey with the Eagles in 1984 where they reached the final in Cote d’Ivoire, before losing 3-1 to rivals Cameroon.
The loss to the Indomitable Lions notwithstanding, the experienced Nigerian tactician remains proud of his achievements.
“I would have love to come back from Cote d’Ivoire with the gold medal, but there was so much that happened behind the scenes right away from Nigeria. Despite that, it was a memorable occasion for me,” the teacher-turned coach states.
“I did not disgrace Nigeria and that was then, our best effort at the AFCON outside Nigeria”
“Being the first Nigerian to lead the national team to the AFCON and coming second on the continent at the first attempt was a personal achievement. I did not disgrace Nigeria and that was then, our best effort at the AFCON outside Nigeria. As such, I see myself as an achiever.”
The veteran coach is a synonymous figure in Nigerian football and remains a point of reference not only in his country but the entire continent as well.
He was the fourth Nigerian coach to handle the national team after Dan Anyiam, Peter ‘Eto’ Amaechina and Carl O’Dwyer, but he ensured the hand of history rested on his shoulder when he led the team to the continental showpiece event.
“Being the first Nigerian to lead the national team to the AFCON and coming second on the continent at the first attempt was a personal achievement,”
Onigbinde started his coaching career in the 1960’s and was reportedly trained by then national team coach, Berti haLevi from Israel. He rose to the role of assistant when British Allan Hawks led Shooting Stars of Ibadan to Nigeria’s first club continental victory when they clinched the 1976 CAF Cup the African Winners’ Cup, now CAF Confederation Cup.
He stepped up to the head coach role when he took charge of the defunct Water Corporation Football Club of Ibadan and guided them to the quarter finals of the African Cup of Champion Clubs, now CAF Champions League, where they lost 5-4 on aggregate to eventual winners Hafia FC of Guinea.
With his work getting noticed from all corners of Nigeria, he took over the national team job after Brazilian Otto Gloria who guided Nigeria to their maiden AFCON title on home soil in 1980, was fired for failing to qualify for the 1982 FIFA World Cup as well as the defence of the AFCON title at the 1982 finals in Libya.
Known for his ultra-defensive style, Onigbinde in his two spells with Nigeria, had a relatively impressive records and picked up 13 wins, 17 draws and seven losses out of the 37 matches he took charge of.
But among his victories, one against eternal rivals Ghana remains the most memorable.
“In October 1983, Nigeria beat Ghana in Accra and that was the first time a Nigerian team defeated Ghana away from home. But what was impressive about my team was the fact that some of the players came from nowhere when I discovered them and gave them national team debuts,”
Some of these players include the late African Player of the Year Rashidi Yekini, Chibuzor Ehilegu, Tarila Okorowanta, Ademola Adesina among others,” he notes.
Onigbinde is also best remembered for his formidable Shooting Stars squad that narrowly lost to Egyptian side Zamalek in the final of the 1984 African Cup of Champions Clubs.
The tactician was also called upon on short notice to guide the Super Eagles squad to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan after the previous technical bench led by the late Shaibu Amodu was sent packing following what was considered a dismal performance at the 2002 AFCON in Mali.
His experiences working around the continent for over four decades has affirmed the belief in him that more faith should be shown on African tacticians, arguing that given time and resources, they can be successful.
“Africans are intelligent but how we use and improve upon the intelligence of African coaches should be the most important thing to the African football administrators.
“To improve the standard of the game in Nigeria and in Africa as a whole, we have to develop the instructors and coaches so that they can impact meaningfully to the upcoming players, something that will in turn improve the general playing standards,” he noted.
-Cafonline
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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