AFCON

Morocco savours the sweetness of victory in AFCON 2025 bid

Published

1 year ago

September 28, 2023

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The kingdom of Morocco is relishing the sweetness of winning the bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations which is most likely be the first to fall in line with the often disrupted calendar that CAF set in 2012 which set the continental competition to hold on the odd numbered year.

Since then, the Africa Cup of Nations has for 10 years suffered either a shift in timing or change of hosts.

The 2013 edition which originally was allocated to Libya had to move to South Africa. The same applied to the 2019 which moved from Cameroon to Egypt and the 2021 moved from Cote d’Ivoire to Cameroon and hosting the following year.

The 2023 allocated to Cote d’Ivoire also has to move to 2014. The sound organisational ability of Morocco coupled with good facilities looked set to restore dignity to the Africa Cup of Nations.

It was therefore not surprising that the 22-man CAF Committee overwhelmingly acclaimed Morocco.

Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has emphasized the uniqueness of the unanimous decision . He called it “ a culmination of development spearheaded by His Majesty King Mohammed VI over the past two decades across various domains.

Lekjaa also underlined that the choice of Morocco also underscores the country’s readiness to host major sporting events under optimal conditions.

“Today, Morocco, with unanimous African approval and without any debate, has the honour of hosting the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. It is the crowning achievement of extraordinary work led by a Great King. It is also the finest reward for a football-loving nation,” he said.

He went on to state that hosting 2025 AFCON in Morocco is the first step, to be followed by another significant endeavour: bidding to host the 2030 World Cup jointly with Spain and Portugal.

In this regard, Lekjaa stressed that the Kingdom will transform this event into a “rebirth of Mediterranean civilization between the north and south of the Mediterranean,” noting that the African continent will rally behind Morocco to achieve this goal, which is also an African aspiration.

For his part, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, congratulated Morocco on its nomination to host the 2025 AFCON.

“I’m proud of Morocco,” said Motseppe, expressing his admiration for the Kingdom’s potential for organizing major sporting events.

Last February, Morocco welcomed several African journalists on a “media tour” to highlight its infrastructure and organizational capabilities to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The tour primarily served to demonstrate that Morocco satisfies all CAF standards in terms of stadiums, training grounds, accommodations, and health infrastructure to host the African football event.

Excellent sporting facilities dot the kingdom from Rabat to Casablanca, Fez, Tangier, Marrakesh and Agadir among others. Morocco has the honour to have hosted the Club World Cup thrice in 2013, 2014 and 2023.

AFCON

Remo Stars’ Franck Mawuena gets Togo’s call-up for AFCON

Published

10 hours ago

October 6, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Franck Mawuena who recently renewed his contract with Remo Stars has received a call-up to the Togolese squad for this week’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. He had previously featured in the Belgian League.

He was part of the Remo Stars squad that finished second in the Nigeria Premier league last season. He scored six goals.

Togo will be away to Algeria on Thursday before hosting the reversed fixture on 14 October.

AFCON

Malawi’s Nkhakananga to referee Nigeria – Libya AFCON clash

Published

11 hours ago

October 6, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Referee Godfrey Philip Nkhakananga, of Malawian nationality, will be at the centre during Friday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

The Confederation of African Football has also appointed Nkhakananga’s compatriots, Clemence Kanduku and Joseph Nyauti as assistant referees 1 ad 2 respectively, while Botswanan Keabetswe Dintwa will serve as fourth official for the Matchday 3 clash starting at 5pm.

Munkaila Nassam Adam from Ghana will be the commissioner, while Issaka Boubacar from Niger and Mayowa Akingbemisilu will be in the roles of referee assessor and broadcast venue manager respectively.

AFCON

Eguavoen unfolds Super Eagles’ squad for back-to-back duel with Libya

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen has called Captain William Ekong, rave-of-the-moment Ademola Lookman, in-form winger Moses Simon and 20 other players for this month’s home-and-away 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying battle with the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.

Wing-backs Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi are included, as well as goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoya, defenders Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika and Alex Iwobi, and forwards Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface and Samuel Chukwueze.

Reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen is excluded on grounds of injury, just as South Africa-based centre-back Olisa Ndah, but defender Bright Osayi-Samuel makes his way back after missing the duels with Benin Republic and Rwanda last month, and in-form playmaker Chidera Ejuke returns to the fold after many moons.

Veteran forward Kelechi Iheanacho is also listed, as well as midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi and Frank Onyeka.

The Super Eagles will host the Mediterranean Knights at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 11^th October, before flying to Benghazi to take on the Knights at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, 19 kilometres away from Benghazi on Tuesday, 15^th October.

All the players are expected to report in Uyo on Monday, 7^th October.

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Benjamin Tanimu (Crawley Town, England)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England)