AFCON
Algeria’s unbeaten run ends, but Remo Stars still unbeaten in Nigeria
On the night when tears were flowing from the eyes of players and followers of African champions, Algeria whose nearly two-year unbeaten streak was terminated by unlikely heroes, Equatorial Guinea, returnee to the Nigerian elite football, Remo Stars continued their strong hold of the Nigeria Professional Football League.
They opened the season and have led ever since. On Sunday, they picked another full point on the road as they beat Wikki Tourists 2-1 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi in one of matchday 6 fixtures.
Head Coach of Remo Stars, Gbenga Ogunbote bestowed faith in his starting eleven that got a 1-0 victory over Plateau United in the emerging football town of Ikenne last weekend.
The coach made only two changes to his bench as Shuji Oshobe and Sunday Williams replaced Kamal Sikiru and Tolulope Ojo.
Wikki Tourists started the game like a house on fire after they had clear chance to put themselves in front, Kayode Bankole denied them their early attempts on goal.
The first opportunity for the visitors surfaced and Dayo Ojo converted the opportunity so well after he met up with a beautiful pass from Andy Okpe, he dribbled his marker to give the Sky Blue Stars the lead at first attempt.
Minutes later, the Giant Elephants got an opportunity to level up after the referee gave them a freekick in a promising area but the kick went into the skies.
The host continued to mount pressure on the visitors and it nearly favoured them in the 32nd minute after Idris Moffid’s attempt hit the woodwork.
Former Sunshine Stars forward, Fuad Ekelejuoti got his own chance to put his team at per with the visitors but Kayode Bankole stood tall to deny.
In the 58th minute, the hosts felt they had equalised but Stanley Okorom’s brilliant clearance tackle denied Abdulrasaq Aliyu from putting the ball at the back of the net.
Abdullahi Oyedele doubled the lead for the Sky Blue Stars in the 62nd minute after Andy Okpe found his way upfront from the midfield to give him an assist.
The host began the mission to reduce the deficit with numerous chances but Kayode Bankole did a lot of justice to those attempts.
Salisu Adama reduced the deficit for his side from Mustapha Abdullahi’s corner, it deflected towards him, and he calmly slotted in for the Giant Elephants.
In the closing minutes of the game, the referee gifted the host a spot kick and Salam Ibrahim took the kick and it hit the woodwork before the ball rolled out.
The pressure continued from the host and the Sky Blue Stars did well to deny their attempts before the referee blew the final whistle.
With the win for the visitors, the Sky Blue Stars maintain their position on the top of the league, their second away victory this season, and they remain unbeaten in the NPFL alongside Rivers United.
Next for the Sky Blue Stars is a home against Abia Warriors at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.
NPFL STATS AFTER MATCHDAY 6
- Top Team: Remo Stars: 14 points, +9goals, -2 goals
- Total No. of Matches Played: 59
- Total No. of Matches won: 43
- Total No. of Matches won Away: 5
- Total No. of Matches Drawn: 16
- Total No. of Goals Scored: 114
- Average Goals/match: 1.9
- Total No. of Home Goals: 88
- Total No. of Away Goals: 26
- Total No. of Own Goals: 3
- Total No. of Penalties Awarded: 13
- Total No. of Penalties Scored: 11
- Total No. of Penalties missed: 2
- Highest Goals Scorer: Rafiu Ishaq (Rivers United) 5 goals
- Total No. of Yellow Cards: 217
- Total No. of Red Cards: 7
- Most Goals Conceded: Dakkada , 11 goals
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Super Eagles for their impressive performance in the 4–0 victory over Benin Republic, praising the team for keeping Nigeria’s qualification hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Adebayo Onanuga, the President lauded the players for their “hunger, passion, and determination” during the crucial qualifier in Uyo, describing their display as one that has “reignited Nigerians’ football pride.”
“While the job is not yet complete, I join millions of Nigerian football fans in wishing our team every success in the playoffs,” Tinubu said. “The mood across the country reflects a shared belief that Nigeria deserves a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada, Mexico, and the United States will host.”
Reaffirming the government’s backing, President Tinubu assured the players and coaching crew of full Federal Government support as they prepare for the decisive play-off stage.
“Nigerians everywhere believe in you, and I do too,” he said. “We look forward to seeing you fly our flag proudly on the world stage.”
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The Organizing Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 has announced a strong start to ticket sales, confirming that 58,000 tickets had been sold as of Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
According to an official update, the enthusiasm for the continental showpiece has also been reflected on the Yalla App, where 145,731 applications have been received so far. In addition, a total of 121,924 FAN IDs have been issued, including 31,058 belonging to foreign nationals representing 108 countries around the world.
In response to the overwhelming demand, the committee disclosed that technical teams are working round the clock to enhance the ticketing and FAN ID systems to ensure smooth processing for fans.
To assist applicants and ensure better communication, the organizers have provided a dedicated customer service line: +212 5 30 30 20 30. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in Arabic, English, and French, and is staffed by over 600 agents trained to respond to inquiries and provide user support.
Fans can also reach the support team via email at info@yallamorocco.ma.
The Organizing Committee expressed gratitude to supporters, media representatives, delegations, and partners for their enthusiasm and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a seamless and memorable experience for all stakeholders during AFCON Morocco 2025.
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Ticket sales for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 will officially open on Monday, 13 October 2025, with an exclusive 48-hour pre-sale window reserved for Visa cardholders, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced.
Fans across Africa and around the world will be able to secure their seats for what promises to be the continent’s biggest football spectacle, which will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
The special Visa pre-sale period will run from Monday, 13 October at 09:00 Moroccan time (08:00 GMT) until Wednesday, 15 October at 08:00 GMT, before general ticket sales open to all fans using other payment methods.
To streamline ticket purchases and enhance security, the Local Organizing Committee has launched the YALLA App, an integrated digital platform for fans to obtain their Fan ID — a mandatory requirement for buying tickets — and apply for E-Visas (AEVM) where necessary.
According to organizers, each registered Fan ID allows supporters to buy only one ticket per match, ensuring wider access and transparency in ticket distribution.
The process for obtaining tickets is straightforward:
- Download the YALLA App, available on Google Play and the App Store.
- Apply for a Fan ID and E-Visa (if required) through the app.
- Once approved, Visa cardholders can visit tickets.cafonline.com starting from Monday, 13 October at 09:00 Moroccan time (08:00 GMT) to purchase their AFCON 2025 tickets.
The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is expected to deliver a festival of football and culture, with fans urged to complete their Fan ID registration early to avoid last-minute rushes.
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