AFCON
THE BIGGEST AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS IN HISTORY: LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
When the referee blasts his whistle at 9 pm (GMT, also Nigerian time) to signal the beginning of the biggest Africa Cup of Nations in history at the Cairo International Stadium, Egypt will want to avoid their national team in 1986 when they surprisingly lost 0-1 to unheralded Senegal.
This time, Egypt will be facing Zimbabwe in the opening match.
In the previous 31 editions, the hosts have often won the opening games. There are 19 of such instances while nine were drawn and five lost, including the 1986 edition by Egypt.
No home nation has lost in the 13 previous curtain raisers involving the home side. The last home side to lose an opening game was Tunisia, losing 0-2 to Mali. One of the memorable defeats of a home side in an opening match was inflicted on Senegal by Nigeria at the 1992 edition.
The Super Eagles took the lead in the first half through Samson Siasia before Senegal leveled up through a defensive error.
Stephen Keshi made amends on the dot of the clock when he fired home the winner for Nigeria.
The opening match is just one of the projected 52 matches as the competition has expanded to 24 teams instead of the 16 that characterized the preceding 12 editions in which 16 teams featured since 1996 – even though Nigeria boycotted the initial 16-format edition.
The number of participating teams has been fluctuating. At it beginning in 1957, there were three teams, all by invitation following the disqualification of the fourth team, South Africa, owing to the prevailing apartheid policy.
Qualifying series began for the 1962 edition following entries by nine countries, including Nigeria. Ethiopia and Egypt both automatically qualified as the host country and titleholders respectively. Morocco would withdraw before play began, thus leaving only six teams vying for the remaining two spots in the finals.
Tunisia eliminated Nigeria after an ill-advised walkout in the return leg in Tunis in which advantage was still in Nigeria’s favour.
Teams in the finals increased to six at the 1963 edition in Ghana.
Nigeria qualified by default after CAF disqualified the initially qualified Guinea on technical ground. Guinean referees officiated the return leg in Conakry in which the host team won 1-0 after a 2-2 draw in Lagos.
The 1968 tournament, the sixth edition heralded the standardization of format. Eight teams featured in the finals and a two-year interval in the even-numbered year was adopted which ran till that of 2012.
The eight-team format was changed to 12 at the Senegal 2012 edition. The 12 teams were divided into four groups of three. For the first time, quarterfinals were introduced as two top teams advanced.
The format changed to 16 teams at South Africa 1996. This year’s edition is the first to involve 24 teams.
They are split into six groups of four teams at the draw conducted in April. Thus, another phase, Round of 16 is introduced. Two teams from each group will advance into the Round of 16.
Four others among the best third-placed teams from the six groups will join the 12 that emerged first and second from each group.
The Round of 16 is a direct knock out stage.
OPENING MATCHES OF PREVIOUS 31 EDITIONS
1957 – Sudan 1-2 Egypt
1959 – Egypt 4 – 0 Ethiopia
1962 – Ethiopia 4 – 2 Tunisia
1963 – Ghana 1 – 1 Tunisia
1965 – Tunisia 4 -0 Ethiopia
1968 – Ethiopia 2 -1 Uganda
1970 – Sudan 3 – 0 Ethiopia
1972 – Cameroon 2 -1 Kenya
1974 – Egypt 2 -1 Uganda 1
1976 – Ethiopia 2 – 0 Uganda
1978 – Ghana 2 – 1 Zambia
1980 – Nigeria 3-1 Tanzania
1982 – Libya 2 -2 Ghana
1984- Cote d’Ivoire 3 – 0 Togo
1986 –Egypt 0 -1 Senegal
1988 –Morocco 1 – 0 DR Congo
1990 – Algeria 5 -1 Nigeria
1992 – Senegal 1-2 Nigeria
1994 – Tunisia 0 – 2 Mali
1996 – South Africa 3-0 Cameroon
1998 – Burkina Faso 0-1 Cameroon
2000 – Ghana 1 – 1 Cameroon
2000 – Nigeria 4 – 2 Tunisia
2002 – Mali 1 – 1 Liberia
2004 – Tunisia 2 – 1 Rwanda
2006 – Egypt 3 – 0 Libya
2008 – Ghana 2 – 1 Guinea
2010 – Angola 4 – 4 Mali 4
2012 – Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Libya
2012 – Gabon 2 – 0 Niger
2013 – South Africa 0 -0 Cape Verde 0
2015 – Equatorial Guinea 1 -1 Congo
2017 – Gabon 1 -1 Guinea Bissau
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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