AFCON
ALGERIAN TORMENTOR OF SUPER EAGLES, RIYAD MAHREZ IS LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE STAR TARGETED BY THIEVES
Riyad Mahrez whose right flank cross William Ekong-Troost deflated in as an own goal in the nerve-wrecking semi-final clash at the Africa Cup of Nations last July and who also scored an expertly taken free kick at added time, has become the latest victim of burglary incidents targeted against Premiership players.
According to UK’s Daily Mail, Mahrez who plays for Manchester City has had three luxury watches stolen during a £500,000 raid at his penthouse.
The haul included a prized Richard Mille timepiece similar to one that knife thugs snatched from England star Dele Alli’s house two weeks ago.
Thieves broke into Mahrez’s luxury block and got hold of a key fob to gain access.
On top of the £230,000 Mille, the Man City star lost a £40,000 Rolex Daytona and a £35,000 Rolex Day Date.
The gang also stole more than £50,000 in cash, Cartier bracelets and rare football shirts worth up to £150,000.
Milles cost up to £1.6million and are a favourite with the rich and top sports stars.
They are known for their precious stones and are made from the same material as space shuttles and F1 cars.
Ed Sheeran, Kanye West and Neymar all own different designs.
Burglars carefully tracked Mahrez before sneaking into his Manchester City centre apartment.
A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said of the raid on Mahrez: ‘At around 5pm on Friday April 24, police were called to reports that four separate apartments had been burgled at a city centre block.’
This comes after Alli was held at knifepoint and punched after robbers broke into his house earlier this month.
As Sportsmail exclusively revealed, the Tottenham and England midfielder was thumped in the face during the ordeal but did not suffer serious injury.
Two males wearing balaclavas broke into the back of Alli’s north London property just after midnight on May 13 before threatening the Spurs star — who has been isolating with his brother Harry Hickford, their two partners and a long-term friend.
Alli’s team-mates Jan Vertonghan had his home robbed in March while he was playing for Spurs in Germany.
At the beginning of the year, Crystal Palace’s Mamadou Sakho lost more than £500,000 of items in a burglary.
Leicester City star Hamza Choudhury became the latest Premier League footballer to invest in guard dogs earlier this month to heighten security.
Several footballers have now beefed up their security by using firm Chaperone K9 after Alli was robbed at knifepoint.
Aston Villa‘s Jack Grealish spent £25,000 on a Belgian Malinois and Choudhury has splashed out £50,000 on the same breed and a German Shepherd, according to The Sun.
K9 have already supplied dogs to Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford as well as former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.
The highly-trained dogs come from police and military backgrounds and cost between £10,000 and £25,000 each.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Super Eagles for their impressive performance in the 4–0 victory over Benin Republic, praising the team for keeping Nigeria’s qualification hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Adebayo Onanuga, the President lauded the players for their “hunger, passion, and determination” during the crucial qualifier in Uyo, describing their display as one that has “reignited Nigerians’ football pride.”
“While the job is not yet complete, I join millions of Nigerian football fans in wishing our team every success in the playoffs,” Tinubu said. “The mood across the country reflects a shared belief that Nigeria deserves a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada, Mexico, and the United States will host.”
Reaffirming the government’s backing, President Tinubu assured the players and coaching crew of full Federal Government support as they prepare for the decisive play-off stage.
“Nigerians everywhere believe in you, and I do too,” he said. “We look forward to seeing you fly our flag proudly on the world stage.”
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The Organizing Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 has announced a strong start to ticket sales, confirming that 58,000 tickets had been sold as of Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
According to an official update, the enthusiasm for the continental showpiece has also been reflected on the Yalla App, where 145,731 applications have been received so far. In addition, a total of 121,924 FAN IDs have been issued, including 31,058 belonging to foreign nationals representing 108 countries around the world.
In response to the overwhelming demand, the committee disclosed that technical teams are working round the clock to enhance the ticketing and FAN ID systems to ensure smooth processing for fans.
To assist applicants and ensure better communication, the organizers have provided a dedicated customer service line: +212 5 30 30 20 30. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in Arabic, English, and French, and is staffed by over 600 agents trained to respond to inquiries and provide user support.
Fans can also reach the support team via email at info@yallamorocco.ma.
The Organizing Committee expressed gratitude to supporters, media representatives, delegations, and partners for their enthusiasm and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a seamless and memorable experience for all stakeholders during AFCON Morocco 2025.
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Ticket sales for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 will officially open on Monday, 13 October 2025, with an exclusive 48-hour pre-sale window reserved for Visa cardholders, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced.
Fans across Africa and around the world will be able to secure their seats for what promises to be the continent’s biggest football spectacle, which will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
The special Visa pre-sale period will run from Monday, 13 October at 09:00 Moroccan time (08:00 GMT) until Wednesday, 15 October at 08:00 GMT, before general ticket sales open to all fans using other payment methods.
To streamline ticket purchases and enhance security, the Local Organizing Committee has launched the YALLA App, an integrated digital platform for fans to obtain their Fan ID — a mandatory requirement for buying tickets — and apply for E-Visas (AEVM) where necessary.
According to organizers, each registered Fan ID allows supporters to buy only one ticket per match, ensuring wider access and transparency in ticket distribution.
The process for obtaining tickets is straightforward:
- Download the YALLA App, available on Google Play and the App Store.
- Apply for a Fan ID and E-Visa (if required) through the app.
- Once approved, Visa cardholders can visit tickets.cafonline.com starting from Monday, 13 October at 09:00 Moroccan time (08:00 GMT) to purchase their AFCON 2025 tickets.
The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is expected to deliver a festival of football and culture, with fans urged to complete their Fan ID registration early to avoid last-minute rushes.
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