AFCON
Osimhen tops goal chart in AFCON 2023 qualifiers
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Victor Osimhen may have shot blank in two matches against soft target, Guinea Bissau, he remains a leading scorer in the on-going qualifying series of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations which finals hold in 2024.
With 88 matches concluded out of the projected 144, there have been 209 goals, making an average of 2.38 per match.
Of the 209 goals, Nigeria’s Osimhen scored five to tie with Senegal’s Sadio Mane who scored the same number.
Four of Osimhen’s goals came in the 10-0 defeat of Sao Tome & Principe last June. The match is Nigeria’s heaviest win, eclipsing a 1959 10-1 defeat of Dahomey (now Benin Republic).
Osimhen’s fifth goal was the one he scored in the 2-1 defeat of Sierra Leone in Abuja.
AFCON qualifying scorers so far
5 goals
- Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
- Sadio Mané (Senegal)
4 goals
- Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso)
- Louis Mafouta (Central African Republic)
3 goals
- Jorginho (Guinea Bissau)
- Peter Shalulile (Namibia)
- Lyle Foster (South Africa)
- Youssef Msakni (Tunisia)
- Patson Daka (Zambia)
2 goals
- Gelson Dala (Angola)
- Cédric Bakambu
- Omar Marmoush (Egypt)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
- Federico Bikoro (Equatorial Guinea)
- Sabelo Ndzinisa (Eswatini
- Osman Bukari (Ghana)
- Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
- Naby Keïta (Guinea)
- Zinho Gano (Guinea Bissau)
- Christian Kouamé (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Ibrahim Sangaré (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Gabadinho Mhango (Malawi)
- Mohamed Camara (Mali)
- El Bilal Touré (Mali)
- Aboubakar Kamara
- Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco)
- Daniel Sosah (Niger)
- Terem Moffi (Nigeria)
- Moses Simon (Nigeria)
- Luís Leal (Sao Tome & Principe)
- Boulaye Dia (Senegal)
- Kodjo Laba (Togo)
- Haythem Jouini (Tunisia)
- Lameck Banda (Zambia)
1 goal
- Mohamed El Amine Amoura (Algeria)
- Youcef Belaïli (Algeria)
- Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria)
- Baghdad Bounedjah(Algeria)
- Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
- Aïssa Mandi (Algeria)
- Lucas João (Angola)
- M’Bala Nzola (Angola)
- Jodel Dossou (Benin)
- Steve Mounié (Benin)
- Junior Olaitan (Benin)
- Mbatshi Elias (Botswana)
- Kabelo Seakanyeng (Botswana)
- Stephane Aziz Ki (Burkina Faso)
- Hassane Bandé (Burkina Faso)
- Abdoul Tapsoba (Burkina Faso)
- Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana (Burundi)
- Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon)
- Olivier Kemen (Cameroon)
- Karl Toko Ekambin (Cameroon)
- Ryan Mendes (Cape Verde)
- Jamiro Monteiro (Cape Verde)
- Júlio Tavares (Cape Verde)
- Karl Namnganda (Central African Republic)
- Isaac Ngoma (Central African Republic)
- Samuel Nlend (Central African Republic)
- El Fardou Ben Nabouhane (Comoros)
- Ibroihim Djoudja (Comoros)
- Youssouf M’Changama (Comoros)
- Benjaloud Youssouf (Comoros)
- Thievy Bifouma (Comoros)
- Gabriel Charpentier (Comoros)
- Antoine Makoumbou (Comoros)
- Jonathan Bolingi (DR Congo)
- Gaël Kakuta (DR Congo)
- Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo)
- Tarek Hamed (Egypt)
- Mostafa Mohamed (Egypt)
- Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Egypt)
- Saúl Coco (Equatorial Guinea)
- Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea)
- Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea)
- Siboniso Ngwenya (Eswatini)
- Shimelis Bekele (Ethiopia)
- Dawa Hotessa (Ethiopia)
- Kitika Jemma (Ethiopia)
- Kenean Markneh (Ethiopia)
- Abubeker Nassir (Ethiopia)
- Shavy Babicka (Gabon)
- Lloyd Palun (Gabon)
- Omar Colley (Gambia)
- Abdoulie Jallow (Gambia)
- Felix Afena-Gyan (Ghana)
- Antoine Semenyo (Ghana)
- Mohamed Bayo (Guinea)
- Morgan Guilavogui (Guinea)
- François Kamano (Guinea)
- Ilaix Moriba (Guinea)
- Mama Baldé (Guinea Bissau)
- Zidane Banjaqui (Guinea Bissau)
- Alfa Semedo (Guinea Bissau)
- Serge Aurier (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Sébastien Haller (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Franck Kessié (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Jean-Philippe Krasso (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Tshwarelo Bereng (Lesotho)
- William Jebor (Liberia)
- Mohammed Sangare (Liberia)
- Tonia Tisdell (Liberia)
- Saleh Al Taher (Libya)
- Njiva Rakotoharimalala (Madagascar)
- Kalifa Coulibaly (Mali)
- Aliou Dieng (Mali)
- Kamory Doumbia (Mali)
- Sékou Koïta (Mali)
- Adama Malouda Traoré (Mali)
- Aly Abeid (Mauritania)
- Abdallahi Mahmoud (Mauritania)
- Mouhamed Soueid (Mauritania)
- Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco)
- Fayçal Fajr (Morocco)
- Geny Catamo (Mozambique)
- Stanley Ratifo Mozambique)
- Gildo Vilanculos Mozambique)
- Absalom Iimbondi (Namibia)
- Amadou Sabo (Niger)
- Emmanuel Dennis (Nigeria)
- Peter Etebo (Nigeria)
- Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)
- Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
- Thierry Manzi (Rwanda)
- Gilbert Mugisha (Rwanda)
- Blaise Nishimwe (Rwanda)
- Eba Viegas (Sao Tome & Principe)
- Boulaye Dia (Senegal)
- Habib Diallo (Senegal)
- Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal)
- Youssouf Sabaly (Senegal)
- Mustapha Bundu (Sierra Leone)
- Musa Noah Kamara (Sierra Leone)
- Augustus Kargbo (Sierra Leone)
- Abu Komeh (Sierra Leone)
- Alhassan Koroma (Sierra Leone)
- Jonathan Morsay (Sierra Leone)
- Abubakarr Samura (Sierra Leone)
- Zakhele Lepasa (South Africa)
- Mihlali Mayambela (South Africa)
- Chol Daniel (South Sudan)
- Tito Okello (South Sudan)
- Mohamed Abdelrahman (Sudan)
- Waleed Al-Shoala (Sudan)
- Muhamed Kome (Sudan)
- George Mpole (Tanzania)
- Saimon Msuva (Tanzania)
- Euloge Placca (Togo)
- Seifeddine Jaziri (Tunisia)
- Ali Maâloul(Tunisia)
- Naïm Sliti (Tunisia)
- Milton Karisa (Uganda)
- Rogers Mato (Uganda)
- Kings Kangwa (Zambia)
- Enock Mwepu (Zambia)
- Fashion Sakala (Zambia)
1 own goal
- Lebogang Ditsele (Botswana) (against Equatorial Guinea)
- Mohammed Al Tuhami (Libya) (against Equatorial Guinea)
- Kiki Kouyaté (Mali) (against South Sudan)
AFCON
Morocco Launches European Roadshow to Promote 2025 AFCON and Tourism

The Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) has kicked off a European promotional tour themed “Morocco, Land of Football” to boost the country’s visibility ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The roadshow, which began on June 16 and runs through June 23, is making stops in five key European cities: Madrid, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Milan.
According to a press release, the initiative is designed to enhance Morocco’s international profile through a blend of sports and cultural promotion, as the kingdom prepares to host the continent’s premier football tournament.
“Morocco is preparing to welcome Africa. Through this roadshow, we aim to tell a collective story of a country oriented towards the future, proud of its roots, and passionate about football,” said Achraf Fayda, Director General of ONMT.
The roadshow stems from a strategic partnership signed in April between the ONMT and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), with the shared goal of positioning Morocco as a leading global destination for both football and tourism by 2030.
At each stop, the tour is expected to engage over 100 travel agents, tour operators, media professionals, and African tourism experts. Participants are treated to immersive, multisensory experiences that highlight Morocco’s tourism offerings, while also facilitating networking with sports personalities.
The campaign targets travel professionals, sports industry stakeholders, and digital content creators as part of ONMT’s broader strategy to leverage AFCON 2025 for tourism development and international branding.
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AFCON
Royal Air Maroc named official partner for AFCON 2025, WAFCON 2024

The African Football Confederation (CAF) and Royal Air Maroc (RAM) have sealed a historic strategic partnership that grants Morocco’s national airline the status of “Official Global Partner” for upcoming major African football competitions.
The agreement was signed Saturday morning in Casablanca, in the presence of Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President Fouzi Lekjaâ.
This partnership encompasses several prestigious tournaments, including the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco (AFCON) 2025 (December 21, 2025 – January 18, 2026) and CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco (WAFCON) 2024 (July 5-26, 2025).
The agreement also covers CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, CAF Champions League 2024/2025 Finals, CAF Confederation Cup 2024/2025 Finals, and the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe voiced enthusiasm about the collaboration.
“We are excited about the partnership between CAF and Royal Air Maroc, a world-class airline that will provide comfort and fly NationalTeams participating in the CAF competitions,” he said.
“We are confident that the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will be the most successful AFCON in the history of this competition.”
The agreement strengthens RAM’s footprint across Africa and globally, solidifying its role as a strategic gateway between Africa and the rest of the world. It also aligns with Morocco’s emergence as an international sports hub, with the country preparing to host AFCON 2025 and co-host the FIFA World Cup 2030.
RAM’s Chairman and CEO Hamid Addou stated: “This historic partnership with CAF aligns fully with our strategic vision as an airline deeply rooted in Africa and committed to its development.”
“Royal Air Maroc doesn’t just connect destinations; it builds bridges between cultures and passions. By supporting the continent’s biggest football competitions, we reaffirm our role as a facilitator of human and sporting exchanges,” he continued.
500,000 supporters expected
Beyond its partnership role, RAM will implement an exceptional operational system to meet increased demand during CAF competitions. The airline plans to welcome over 500,000 supporters for AFCON 2025.
“We believe we will surpass this figure by far,” revealed Addou. “We will be ready to accommodate these supporters across Royal Air Maroc’s entire network.”
The airline intends to double seat capacity from qualified countries already served by RAM, such as Dakar, Abidjan, Cairo, Tunis, Bamako, Lagos, and Douala.
RAM will also intensify flight frequencies from European cities with large African communities, including Paris, Brussels, Milan, London, Marseille, Lyon, Madrid, and Barcelona.
Additionally, the airline will establish a dedicated program for domestic air transport of national teams, shuttling them between their base camps and host cities.
This positioning establishes RAM as the primary connector between Africa and Europe through its Casablanca hub. FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaâ noted that the contract “reinforces Royal Air Maroc’s first-rate leadership role in Africa.”
“Royal Air Maroc is no stranger to football,” Lekjaâ added. “It has always supported generations of our athletes and footballers here in Morocco.”
“With this expertise and experience, they will contribute significantly to making AFCON 2025 Morocco exceptional, a historic turning point in African football, cultural coexistence and African cultural exchange,” he concluded.
Addou stressed RAM’s commitment to African unity: “We are all extremely proud to be African, and in every corner of this vast and magnificent continent, we share the same ambition—to actively contribute to Africa’s development and influence.”
The RAM CEO concluded by inviting everyone to upcoming CAF calendar events: “We’ll see you very soon for the great moments ahead in the CAF calendar, particularly the Women’s AFCON starting in July and, of course, the men’s AFCON, which kicks off on December 25.”
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AFCON
Morocco speeds up stadium upgrades ahead of AFCON 2025

The presidents of the regional councils concerned by the hosting of the matches of the Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco-2025) unanimously affirmed that the implementation of infrastructure projects in anticipation of this continental event “is progressing at a sustained pace”, declaring themselves “fully mobilized” to crown with success the major sporting events scheduled in the Kingdom.
They specified, in statements to the press in Rabat following a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior devoted to the assessment of the progress of the construction and rehabilitation works of the stadiums, that major sports infrastructure projects are underway in the six host cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Fez, Marrakech and Agadir.
The President of the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council, Abdellatif Maâzouz, announced that the projects planned for upcoming international sporting events, in particular the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, “are proceeding under good conditions.”
The projects related to the organisation of the AFCON will be ready by next July at the latest, he assured, specifying that there is a clear vision regarding the preparations underway for the AFCON and the 2030 World Cup, both in terms of equipment and organisational arrangements related to human resources and animation.
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