AFCON

Afcon 2023 teams set up seven pre-tournament camps in the Middle East and Africa

Published

2 years ago

December 28, 2023

Super Eagles of Nigeria along with Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Cape Verde Angola and Guinea set up camp in the United Arab Emirates

With the clock ticking down to the 13 January kick-off date for the 34^th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the 24 teams have set up seven camps in the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa and West Africa as well as some remaining at home.

The camps are in Saudi Arabia, UAE, West Africa, South Africa, Tunisia, Algeria as well as some remaining in their home countries.

In the United Arab Emirates are six teams from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Cape Verde Angola and Guinea.

Fourth in the last edition, Burkina Faso chose to set up camp in Dubai on December 28, where the Stallions will play a mini-tournament with Nigeria and the DR Congo.

The Congolese and Burkinabes will face off on January 10.

It’s worth noting that Sébastien Desabre’s men are expected in Abu Dhabi at the end of December.

These two teams will be joined by Cape Verde, fine-tunning its preparation in Abu Dhabi before flying to Rades in Tunisia where they will face the Carthage Eagles on January 10.

Abu Dhabi is a carefully considered choice for Kaba Diawara: “Initially, we will meet in Conakry on December 28 and do everything related to flag presentation, celebration, receiving the head of state, and saying goodbye to families on our soil.

“We will be in Abu Dhabi on the 31st to start training. We will leave there for Cote d’Ivoire on January 11 or 12, 2024,” explained the Guinean coach.

Nigeria chose to set up in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates during their preparation. The Super Eagles will face the DR Congo and Burkina Faso during this period.

Nigerians will likely encounter Angola, who also chose Dubai for their training camp.

At the Saudi Arabia training camp are the quartet of Cameroon, Gambia, Zambia, and Cape Verde which also will partly be in UAE and later Tunisia.

Cameroon and Gambia, the two teams set to face each other on January 23 in Group B of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, will prepare in the same country of Saudi Arabia.

According to the Cameroonian press, a contingent of 23 Indomitable Lions will travel to Jeddah on December 27.

Gambia will stay in Saudi Arabia from December 27 to January 5 before heading to Morocco, where a match against the Atlas Lions is planned on January 7.

After a brief gathering with local players, Zambia will fly to Riyadh, with a friendly match scheduled around January 7.

South Africa is another training centre where Ghana and Mozambique will be. Ghanaians will spend New Year’s Eve together in South Africa. The Black Stars will undergo a 10-day training camp where the press and the public will not be able to attend their sessions.

A test match against Botswana is scheduled for Chris Hughton’s men on January 8 before flying to Abidjan.

Mozambicans will also travel to South Africa before the Africa Cup of Nations.

The trio of Algeria, Guinea Bossau and Namibia opted to set up camp in West Africa

Algeria heads to Togo. From January 1 to 10, the Fennecs will conduct their preparation stage in Lomé. The 2021 African champions will play against Togo on January 5 and Burundi on January 9.

Guinea Bissau will go to Mali. The Djurtus will face the Eagles on January 3 before heading to Ivory Coast on January 7. Namibia will be in Ghana.

Both Mauritania and Zambia opted to set up training camp in Tunisia. After Abu Dhabi, Cape Verde will go to Tunisia, where a match against the Carthage Eagles is scheduled.

Mauritania will start its preparation in Tabarka, a coastal city in northwest Tunisia. Amir Abdou and his team will be there until January 11 and will face Tunisia on January 6.

Tanzania will prepare on the side of Annaba in Algeria. Two friendly matches against nations participating in the AFCON are under discussion.

Eight nations have decided to carry out their preparation at home, including Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Tunisia, Mali, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, the host country of the competition.

AFCON

Moroccan ambassador hails Super Eagles after AFCON opening win in Fez

Published

10 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Morocco’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Moha OU Ali Tagma hails Super Eagles

By Kunle Solaja.

Morocco’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Moha OU Ali Tagma, has congratulated Nigeria’s Super Eagles following their 2–1 victory over Tanzania in their opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, currently taking place in Morocco.

In a message sent to Sports Village Square moments after the final whistle in Fez, the ambassador expressed his delight in simple but emphatic terms, saying: “Congratulations!!”

The ambassador has been closely following Nigeria’s AFCON campaign and shared several video clips in the build-up to the match, including the Super Eagles’ arrival in Fez last Thursday.

He also circulated footage from the colourful opening ceremony in Rabat, which featured a performance by Nigerian music icon Davido, as well as clips of Gburugburu Ndigbo Dum’s visit to the Nigerian team in their Fez camp.

Also reacting to Nigeria’s opening match, a Director of the Moroccan National Tourism Office, Hatim El Ghabi, praised the Super Eagles after watching both their recent World Cup qualifying play-off and the AFCON victory over Tanzania.

According to El Ghabi, Nigeria possess “a strong team with a powerful attack” and a clear ability to strike decisively on the counter-attack.

He noted that the Super Eagles’ approach points to an offensive strategy built around players capable of creating dangerous chances and punishing opponents, describing the team as “formidable and exciting to watch.”

Nigeria’s victory over Tanzania has given them a positive start in Group C, and attention now turns to their second group fixture against Tunisia, scheduled for Saturday in Fez, as the Super Eagles look to build momentum in their quest for continental glory on Moroccan soil.

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AFCON

Semi Ajayi named Man of the Match as Super Eagles edge Tanzania

Published

12 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Nigeria defender Semi Ajayi was named Man of the Match after a commanding all-around performance that anchored the Super Eagles’ 2–1 victory over Tanzania in their opening Group C fixture of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ajayi not only provided the decisive defensive solidity Nigeria needed in a tense contest, but also opened the scoring with a towering header in the 36th minute, rising above the Tanzanian defence to convert a well-weighted cross from Alex Iwobi.

The goal set Nigeria on their way and underlined Ajayi’s growing importance at both ends of the pitch.

Throughout the match, the central defender produced a composed display, reading danger early, winning aerial duels and organising a back line that was repeatedly tested by a spirited Tanzanian side eager to upset the odds.

Even after Tanzania drew level early in the second half, Ajayi remained assured, helping Nigeria regain control as the game entered a nervy phase.

His performance was capped by a series of crucial clearances and interceptions late in the match, as Tanzania pushed for another equaliser following Ademola Lookman’s superb strike that restored Nigeria’s lead.

The Man of the Match award crowns an impressive outing for Ajayi, whose influence extended beyond his goal.

It was his second strike for the Super Eagles, following his earlier goal in a 2023 World Cup qualifier, and another reminder of his value as a dependable presence in high-pressure games.

Nigeria’s narrow win places them provisionally at the top of Group C, and as the Super Eagles prepare for tougher tests against Tunisia and Uganda, Ajayi’s assured display will offer encouragement that the defensive spine of the team is finding its rhythm at the right time.

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AFCON

Super Eagles labour past Tanzania to open AFCON 2025 campaign with a narrow win

Published

12 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Nigeria’s Super Eagles began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Tanzania. However, the performance in Fez suggested there is still work to be done before they can truly assert their continental pedigree.

The struggle notwithstanding, Nigeria have stretched their winning streak over Tanzania to five.

Against a Tanzanian side yet to record a win in AFCON history, Nigeria were pushed to the limit and made to earn all three points in a contest that proved far more demanding than the records of both teams suggested.

The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Semi Ajayi rose highest to nod home a well-delivered cross from Alex Iwobi. It was Ajayi’s second goal for the Super Eagles, following his strike against Lesotho in a 2023 World Cup qualifier.

Nigeria thought they had doubled their advantage early in the second half when Victor Osimhen found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. That moment proved costly, as the Super Eagles’ defence switched off minutes later, allowing Charles M’Mombwa to fire in a first-time finish in the 52nd minute to draw Tanzania level.

The equaliser jolted Nigeria into greater urgency, and their response arrived through Ademola Lookman, who restored the lead with a superb strike from just outside the penalty area.

Despite late pressure from Tanzania, Nigeria held on to secure the win, which temporarily places them at the top of Group C pending the outcome of the Tunisia versus Uganda encounter.

The Super Eagles will next face Tunisia on Saturday before rounding off their group campaign against Uganda on December 30. Tanzania, still in search of its first-ever AFCON victory, takes on Uganda on Saturday and concludes its group fixtures against Tunisia on December 30.

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