AFCON
Facts & Figures As Cape Verde And South Africa Battle To Face Nigeria –
South Africa must not underrate Cape Verde when they two sides meet in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.
The two sides have surprised pundits with their impressive performances to reach the last eight of the tournament and will seek to go a step further.
Below are some of the statistics and information on the game:
- Cabo Verde and South Africa will meet for the second time at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, after a 0-0 draw in the group stage in 2013. The previous encounter was Cabo Verde’s very first match in the competition and the very first game of the 2013 edition – hosted by South Africa.
- South Africa have reached the quarter-finals in three of their last four appearances at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, while they’re looking to reach the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since 2000 (lost 2-0 against Nigeria).
- Cabo Verde have won three of their four matches at AFCON 2023 (D1), scoring eight goals, more victories, and more goals than in their previous 11 games in the competition combined (W2 D6 L3 GF6).
- Cabo Verde are looking to reach the semi-finals of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations for the first time, with this their second quarter-final appearance, their first since a 2-0 defeat to Ghana in 2013.
- South Africa have kept three consecutive clean sheets at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since February 1998; the Bafana Bafana have never stopped their opponents from scoring in four AFCON matches in a row.
- South Africa have made just two changes to their starting eleven at AFCON 2023, the joint fewest of any side, while opponents Cabo Verde have made 14 – only Guinea (17) have made more in the competition.
- At 29 years 64 days, Cabo Verde have the oldest average starting XI at AFCON 2023, indeed five of their eight goals have been scored by players aged 30 or over – the last team with more goals in a single edition from players aged 30+ were Egypt in 1998 (7).
- Cabo Verde have attempted the most dribbles at the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (95, 44 successful). Indeed, the Blue Sharks attempted 34 dribbles in the Round of 16 against Mauritania (13 successful); the highest total in an AFCON match this year.
- Themba Zwane has been directly involved in 50% (3/6) of South Africa’s goals at AFCON 2023 (two goals, one assist), while he could become the first Bafana Bafana player to score three goals in a single edition of AFCON since Shaun Bartlett in 2000 (5).
- Ryan Mendes has been directly involved in more goals (four – two goals, two assists) than any other Cabo Verde player at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, while his three goal involvements (two goals, one assist) at AFCON 2023 is also the most by a Cabo Verde player in a single edition.
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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