AFCON
Super Eagles await top and familiar top opponents at AFCON Draw
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
As the clock counts down to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations draw ceremony in Abidjan on Thursday, Nigeria’s Super Eagles are destined to face either the host country, Cote d’Ivoire or any of the top four African countries.
The probability of drawing a North African team is very high, considering their preponderance in the Pot 1 which harbours the top seeds.
Nigeria will therefore face any of the following – Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt. The other options are two West Africans -hosts Cote d’Ivoire or Senegal.
In the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations – 2019 and 2021, the Super Eagles have had confrontations with three of the top four from North Africa – Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia.
It is only Morocco that the Super Eagles have not faced in recent time. Nigeria’s last major confrontation with Morocco at top flight level dates back to 27 January 2004 during the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. Morocco won the Group D opener by 1-0.
The Team B of both countries however met at the final match of the African Nations Championships (CHAN) in 2018. Morocco won 4-0 at home.
Another North African side in Pot 1, Egypt lost to Nigeria in the opening Group D match last year in Garoua, Cameroon.
But unexpectedly, a highly depleted Tunisian side eliminated Nigeria in the Round of 16, just as Algeria did at the semi-finals of the 2019 edition.
Tunisia have been one of the most familiar North African opponents Nigeria drew at the Africa Cup of Nations in recent time. Since the controversial third place match at Ghana 1978, both teams have met five times.
Egypt is another familiar opponents. They have faced Nigeria nine times in the framework of the Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria won 1-0, the last time out at last year’s edition in Cameroon.
Before then, Egypt beat Nigeria 3-1 in the opening group game at Angola 2010 and 6-3 in Ghana 1963. Otherwise, three of the remaining matches had been in Nigeria’s favour while other three were drawn.
Hosts, Cote d’Ivoire and fellow West Africans provide the possible surprise elements. There have been very few Africa Cup of Nations finals clashes.
Nigeria have met Cote d’Ivoire five times at the finals, winning twice, 2-1 in 2013 and 1-0 in 1990. The Ivoirians also won twice:1-0 in both 2006 and 2008 and drew goalless in Lagos in 1980.
Nigeria met Senegal twice in the Egypt 2006 edition winning both at the group stage and the third-place match. They met on identical date – 7 February in 2000 and 2002. Nigeria won 2-1 in Lagos in 2000 while Senegal won by the same scoreline at Mali 2002.
Three other Nigerian opponents will come from Pots 3 and 4. In Pot 3 are Cape Verde, who keep on improving; 2012 champions Zambia, the 2012 champions; South Africa, the 1996 champions as well as Guinea, Equatorial Guinea and Mauritania.
The Super Eagles have Guinea, Zambia and South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations and had good results. But they had never faced Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea and Mauritania in the competition. Equatorial Guinea and Cape Verde were Nigeria’s qualifying opponents in 2010 and 2022 World Cup respectively.
One of those six teams will face Nigeria at the 2023 AFCON.
Pot 4 contains the lowest-ranked teams in the competition. Angola, hosts in 2010, are together with Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Namibia, The Gambia and Tanzania.
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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