AFCON
‘WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION’ ASSEMBLED FOR BENIN INVASION
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
With the arrival on Tuesday of Victor Osimhen, who with four goals is the current lead scorer in the qualifying series for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations, the camp of the Super Eagles is full to the brim.
Earlier, Leicester’s explosive striker, Kelechi Iheanacho who in recent two matches for his Premier League club has scored five goals as well as the ever bubbling Samuel Chukwueze of FC Villarreal hitting the camp, all the 23 players listed by Gernot Rohr have hit the camp.
Their presence was enough excitement for Rohr who looked very relaxed Tuesday morning as he entertained questions from the media.
He has assembled what could be termed ‘weapons of mass destruction’ as the Super Eagles prepare for Friday morning sea cruise to Cotonou on their mission to conquer Benin Republic in the ‘Battle of Porto Novo’ on Saturday.
Speaking with great confidence, Rohr remarked: “I’m relieved that all my players are in camp today (Tuesday) and what is left now is to commence full preparation for the two matches as we hoped to get the maximum results and at the same time we won’t underrate our opponents.”
Nigeria, with eight points sit atop the Group L, but are closely followed by their western neighbours, Benin who have seven points.
A win by either side on Saturday secures qualification for the winner thus adding flavour to what is potentially an explosive encounter.
The match holds at the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto Novo. But both sides could secure qualification even before firing any shot if the other match in the group – a Sierra Leone versus Lesotho match – which holds earlier than the Porto Novo battle fails to produce a winner.
At the moment, Sierra Leone are with three points are condemned to win against bottom-placed Lesotho if they are to have any arithmetical chance of qualifying.
Thus, failure of Sierra Leone to pick all the three points means Nigeria and Benin will qualify even before their match slated for the same day.
That notwithstanding, Rohr said his players are not hoping for the lottery that the Sierra Leone versus Lesotho encounter potentially offers.
He remarked that his players, with their potent offensive, will approach Saturday’s match with the intention of picking all three points, no matter the result of the group’s other tie in Maseru.
“We are keen to restore a winning mentality to the group ahead of very crucial matches that we have ahead.
“It is important that we earn victories in the upcoming matches so that we get into our paces for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. There will be tough games to come and we need to be rearing to go.
“The players are ready to explode and we want to win the confidence of teaming Nigerian fans back considering the fact that we missed the chance of qualification into the final tournament with the 4-4 draw at home to Sierra Leone.
“We are ready to make up and banish the disappointment of the last matches and the best way is for every one of us to push further up in the two coming matches but for now, it’s the away match that is uppermost and we want all Nigerians to come behind us.”
The players too are getting psychologically attuned. For instance, Scottish league winner with Glasgow Rangers, Joe Aribo is keen at playing before Lagos audience.
It has been 20 years since the Super Eagles played any match of significance in Lagos. It therefore means that all the players will be having a brand new experience playing before the Lagos crowd.
Aribo said that the team is well motivated to win the matches as he is particularly eager to play in Lagos following the reports that the fans in the city have a unique way with its partisanship.
“Playing in Lagos, we were told is a special moment considering the fact that it was traditional home of the national team and if I’m selected it will be a special moment for me and most of my teammates.”
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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