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Odegbami turns a prophet, sees Nigeria – Cote d’Ivoire finale on February 11! –

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Odegbami Turns A Prophet, Sees Nigeria

Nigerian football legend, Segun Odegbami who won the Africa Cup of Nations with the then Green Eagles in 1980 and third placed in 1978 has prophesied that Nigeria and hosts, Cote d’Ivoire will play the Afcon final match on 11 February.

In essence, he sees Nigeria scaling the South African hurdle on Wednesday while Cote d’Ivoire too will defeat DR Congo in the semi-finals.

If the ‘prophesy comes to past, it will be the second time that Nigeria will face a team in its group stage at the final match.

That happened the last time Nigeria won the cup in 2013. The Super Eagles were held to a draw by Burkina Faso and later met in the final match which Nigeria won.

 

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According to a press statement by the NFF, Odegbami addressed the Super Eagles at their Pullman Hotel in Abidjan on the eve of their encounter with Guinea Bissau which was the last group match.

“Some persons who were there did not quite share in his conviction that the Super Eagles would be champions”, remarked Ademola Olajire, the spokesman of the NFF.

“Today, many have been ‘converted’, and the 71-year- old legend says he is happy that things are going according to his expectations, Olajire concluded.

Odegbami.

 

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“I said long before the finals that we would be champions of Africa. Many people thought I was just sounding off. Now, they are seeing their light. Everyone appears to believe now that the Super Eagles can do it”, Odegbami reportedly said.

 

“Now that we are in the semi-finals, I am seeing that we are going to be playing the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire in the Final. We are beating South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire will beat Democratic Republic of Congo. The stage is set for a classic Final match on February 11.”

 

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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AFCON

VIDEO: AFCON Morocco 2025: Ticket Sales Open Wider as Organizers Ease Access for More Fans

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By Kunle Solaja

The Organizing Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 has expanded access to ticket sales, allowing nationals from Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, and Zambia to apply using a new manual registration system.

Beginning today, October 28, 2025, at 12:30 PM (CET), fans from these countries — whose citizens do not possess biometric passports — can now use the manual data entry option on the official YALLA app, the gateway for all AFCON ticketing and travel formalities.

“This measure reflects our commitment to inclusivity and to making the AFCON experience accessible to all African fans,” the Organizing Committee stated.

The YALLA app now allows applicants to manually enter their data to obtain both a Fan ID and an Electronic Visa (eVisa/AEVM) — both mandatory before purchasing match tickets.

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Each Fan ID entitles its holder to purchase one ticket per match, and no tickets will be sold without prior Fan ID registration.

Tickets are available exclusively through CAF Official Ticketing Website: https://tickets.cafonline.com and YALLA Fan ID Portal: https://www.yallamorocco.ma

“Any other website or app claiming to sell tickets is fraudulent and must not be used,” the committee warned. To support fans navigating the registration and ticketing process, the organizers have launched a dedicated 24-hour customer service line.

The hotline is +212 5 30 30 20 30. . It operates in three languages (Arabic, English, and French) and is operated by a dedicated team working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to answer inquiries and assist users.

A trained support team is on standby to assist users with Fan ID registration, visa processing, and ticket inquiries.

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The Organizing Committee expressed gratitude to fans, delegations, and media partners for their enthusiasm and cooperation ahead of what is expected to be one of the most technologically advanced editions of the tournament.

“We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for all supporters attending AFCON Morocco 2025,” the statement concluded.

The ticketing update marks another milestone in Morocco’s preparation for hosting Africa’s biggest football event, continuing its reputation for organizational excellence and fan-friendly innovation.

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AFCON

Egypt to face Nigeria in Nations Cup warm-up in December

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Egyptian national team will face Nigeria on 14 December at Cairo Stadium as part of their preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA)said on Sunday.

The friendly was arranged at the request of Egypt coach Hossam Hassan, who wanted to test his side against one of the continent’s heavyweights ahead of the tournament.

The Pharaohs will compete in the UAE International Tournament, where they will meet Uzbekistan on 14 November.

The competition also features Cape Verde and Iran, who will play a day earlier.

The winners of both matches will face each other in the final on 18 November.

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Senegal were initially scheduled to take part in the tournament but withdrew, paving the way for Cape Verde to join.

Egypt have been drawn in Group B for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, alongside South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe

-Ahram

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AFCON

Troost-Ekong: Super Eagles Wiser, Hungrier for AFCON Glory

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Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong says Nigeria will head to Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations determined to go one step further after the heartbreak of losing the last final to Côte d’Ivoire.

In an exclusive chat with CAFOnline.com, the Al-Kholood defender said the experience of falling short in Abidjan has made the team tougher and more united.

“Last AFCON left a lasting impression on all of us,” Troost-Ekong said. “This group is excited to have another chance to try and win the trophy. We learned so much from that final—this time we’ll be calmer and play our football better.”

The Saudi Arabia-based centre-back downplayed talk of Nigeria being clear favourites, noting that hosts Morocco, defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal are equally strong contenders.

“There’s no such thing as a clear favourite at AFCON,” he warned. “You can’t win a tournament with expectations. AFCON is difficult and full of surprises.”

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Troost-Ekong, who has appeared in multiple AFCON campaigns, said the key to winning lies in “heart, togetherness and consistency.”

“Momentum has to grow through the tournament. Don’t panic when things go wrong, and don’t get carried away when they go right,” he added.

On Nigeria’s group opponents—Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania—the skipper admitted the road to the knockout stages won’t be easy.

“Tunisia knocked us out in 2021. Uganda and Tanzania are improving fast. There’s no easy game at AFCON,” he said.

Troost-Ekong also saluted Nigerian fans for their support and promised the team would give everything to bring home the title.

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“When all of Nigeria stands together, that’s our power,” he declared. “Hopefully, the headline this time will read: Nigeria crowns the special generation with an AFCON title.

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