AFCON
NFF can appeal FIFA’s hefty fine
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
In the aftermath of the ill-fated World Cup play-off with Ghana in March at the Abuja stadium, the world football’s governing body, FIFA, imposed a fine of CHF 150,000 on the Nigeria Football Federation and also announced that the next international match of the Super Eagles, the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 qualifiers with Sierra Leone will be played behind closed doors.
The fine imposed on Nigeria is the second heaviest after the CHF 175,000 imposed on Senegal FA. While the incidents that occasioned the fines on NFF and the Senegal FA are just one in each instance, there are countries whose infractions were even up to three instances and yet had lower fines.
For instance, Bolivia which had similar incident like that of Abuja – Order and security including invasion of the field of play and throwing of objects – is fined a laughable CHF 27,000 in comparison to Nigeria’s CHF 150,000. Also, Bolivia were also charged with use of laser pointers and use of words to transmit a message that is not appropriate for a sports events – offensive chants.
Yet the fine was lower than that of Nigeria pointing to disproportionate mete of punishment for the same offence. They are not punished with a closed-door match unlike what was meted to Nigeria.
According to information Sports Village Square gathered from FIFA, “some decisions may be subject to appeal.” It pointed out that the decisions released to the media is just for information and may not be deemed a valid legal document.
In another instance comparable to Nigeria’s, Canada who were twice charged, had in an instance just a warning letter and a fine of CHF 15,000 for team misconduct by delaying kick off and were also charged with order and security as well as invasion of the field of play during their World Cup qualifying match with USA on 30 April.
It is to be noted that Canada were charged under two sections of FIFA Disciplinary Code: Art. 12 & 16, while Nigeria breached only the Art. 16 yet carry a heftier punishment that Canada that breached two articles of the disciplinary code.
There are many of such instances. In all instances involving 36 countries across the continents, only three African countries – Nigeria, Senegal and DR Congo are given hefty fines in hundred of thousands as well as closed door matches.
The others were given limited crowd attendance as punishments.
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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