AFCON
DESPITE QUARANTINE WAIVER, MOSES SIMON DOUBTS HIS RELEASE BY NANTES
Nigeria forward Moses Simon hopes the “right balance” can be found between club and country, as the continent’s footballers playing in the top two divisions of French football are stopped from leaving Europe for international fixtures.
The 25-year-old, who plays for Ligue 1 side Nantes, has been replaced in the Super Eagles squad for the final round of qualifying fixtures for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations because of the ban imposed by the league organisers in France.
“The challenge is to find the right balance because I understand where the clubs are coming from due to the strict covid rules in France,” Simon told BBC Sport Africa.
“My club Nantes is struggling and not in a good place, so it’s difficult for the team to allow any of our players to travel.
“It’s actually a sad and disappointing situation because I love to play for my country.”
In search of a win to seal automatic qualification, the Super Eagles travel to Benin on 27 March before hosting Lesotho in Lagos three days later.
The squad suffered another setback after striker Sadiq Umar was withdrawn from the squad by his Spanish club Almeria due to Covid fears.
Defender Kenneth Omeruo, another player in Spain, has also been replaced in the Nigeria squad.
Under current Covid-19 guidelines, footballers arriving in European countries are subject to spend time in quarantine and they cannot train and play for their club when they return.
To exacerbate the situation, Fifa extended an exemption for clubs to refuse the release of their players if there is a mandatory quarantine of five days or more in place in the relevant country.
While upcoming South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup have been postponed to allay such fears, the critical African Cup of Nations games were not.
Simon says there is no easy solution and accepts there is little the players can do, even though some pundits have mooted the idea of moving African qualifiers to Europe during the pandemic.
“It’s an option because we already play friendly games in Europe, but I don’t know if countries will allow this,” he explained.
“I believe Caf and Fifa can make the right decisions for the players and African football.
“The pandemic has affected everyone and not just footballers, plus our fans would love for us to play at home.
“It’s not going to be easy but I know those in charge of football will find the right balance that fits countries and fits club.”
Three time African champions Nigeria are currently top of Group L where all the teams, which include Benin, Sierra Leone and Lesotho, can still qualify for January’s finals in Cameroon.
The Super Eagles have eight points, one ahead of the squirrels of Benin while the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone have three points and Lesotho two.
-BBC
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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