AFCON
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS’ FINAL MATCH IS MORE OF MAHREZ VERSUS MANE CONTEST
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
As the curtain gets set to fall on the largest ever Africa Cup of Nations, all eyes will be on two star players – Riyad Mahrez of Algeria and Sadio Mane, the talisman of Senegal.
The success of their respective teams may be determined by the performances of these two stars.
Mahrez was almost singularly responsible for the team’s march to the final. It was the Manchester City’s £60m winger’s pull out from the right wing that Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong inadvertently deflected into his own net.
Then in the last minute of the epic semi-final match, his well taken free kick gave Algeria the winning goal.
Can he leave up to his calling today? In the other camp, Senegal depends on Sadio Mane, who for two years running has been beaten by his Liverpool teammate, Mohamed Salah as Africa’s soccer king.
His time appears to have come now. Donning the iconic number 10 for both club and country, time seems to have come for him to explode.
No stage is better other than the biggest ever Africa Cup of Nations in history. He could win the first title for his honour-starved country, which even though ranked as Africa’s number one, but yet to win an African title!
Mane as Liverpool’s No10 spent the 2018/19 campaign engrossed in an enrapturing, nip-and-tuck battle for Premier League glory with Algeria’s Mahez in Manchester City.
Now they are set to meet for the second time at this CAF Africa Cup of Nations – Algeria edged Senegal 1-0 in the group stage – after Riyad Mahrez and Sadio Mane inspired a final between the nations.
While Senegal are Africa’s number one, Algeria are positioned a distance 12th. Will the often-criticized FIFA ranking be proven right? The events at the Cairo International Stadium later tonight will decide.
Also as possible yardsticks are the players’ ratings across all platforms – the English Premiership and international matches.
For Algeria’s Mahrez, this match will be his 53rd appearance in Algerian colours while the backbreaking goal he inflicted against Nigeria last Sunday was his 13th, an unlucky number that proved to be the Nigerian nemesis.
Mane, a better-known star has a higher statistics. The Africa Cup of Nations final match will be his 61st appearance for Senegal at Grade A level. He has scored 18 times for the honour-starved nation that is in the final match for the first time in 17 years.
Both Mane and Mahrez are recent stars in African Football. Mahrez, born in France, reportedly made his international debut when he was 23 and just 12 days to Brazil 2014 World Cup.
In 2016, he became the first Algerian to win the CAF African Footballer of the Year award since Rabah Madjer in 1987
Mane made his international debut shortly after turning 20 in 2012. He missed the last penalty as Senegal lost a shoot-out to Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations’ quarterfinals in 2017.
He later redeemed himself later that year with a crucial goal against Burkina Faso and a palatial performance against South Africa to send The Lions of Teranga to their second World Cup.
He was superb in Senegal’s first two matches at Russia 2018.
MAJOR HONOURS: MANE VS MAHREZ
Mahrez
- 2 Premier League titles (2015/16 & 2018/19)
- English FA Cup (2018/19)
- English League Cup (2018/19)
Mane
- UEFA Champions League (2018/19)
- Austrian Bundesliga (2013/14)
- Austrian Cup (2013/14)
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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