AFCON
It’s A Grudge-laden Clash As Nigeria Face Rugged Angola In AFCON Quarter-finals –
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
When the Super Eagles take on the Palancas Negras of Angola in the first of the quarter-final matches of the Africa Cup of Nations this Friday in Abidjan, the quest of vengeance could be uppermost in the minds of the players and their band of supporters.
The bitterness of Nigeria’s elimination from the 2006 World Cup qualification will easily come mind. The 1-1 draw that Angola forced in the return leg not only cost Nigeria the qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, it led to a chain of sacking.
First casualty was the Super Eagles’ coach, Christian Chukwu who was removed from his post and replaced with his deputy, Austin Eguavoen.
With both tying on points on the last match day and Nigeria losing out to Angola on the head-to-head rule since Angola beat Nigeria 1-0 in Angola and Nigeria had a 1-1 draw at home, it was advantage Angola.
The statement by the then NFA chairman, Ibrahim Galadima that the World Cup ticket was not Nigeria’s birthright triggered a chain of events that eventually led to his ouster.
With Angola again facing the Super Eagles in an encounter with zero tolerance for failure, adverse result could be devastating especially in a shock-filled tournament.
Confrontation between the two have been low, just nine so far at Grade A level, Nigeria only won twice, and by low scoreline of 1-0. Five of the other confrontations were drawn.
While Nigeria boasts of Osimhen as the lethal attacker and reigning African Footballer of the Year, Angola in also not in short with an almost equivalent.
Jacinto Dala Gelson has been in his best element at this tournament while Osimhen is yet to get to the peak of his potency.
Osimhen is still on just a goal while Gelson with four goals is aspiring to upstage Equatorial Guinea’s Emilio Nsue who scored five before his team’s ouster.
While goal-scoring by Nigeria has been low, it is almost an habit for Angola who not only finished the group stage unbeaten, they had provided one of the most potent attacks of this tournament having scored nine as against Nigeria’s five in four matches.
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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