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CAF, Morocco LOC announce host cities, venues for AFCON 2025

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago01 mins

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) together with Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football and the Local Organizing Committee of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 have announced the cities that will host matches in the competition. Six cities and nine stadiums have been selected for Africa’s flagship football tournament, which will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. They are Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, Fes and Tangier.

Yobo, other African legends for Morocco AFCON 2025 Final Draw

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago06 mins

Former Super Eagles captain and assistant coach Joseph Yobo, Mustapha Hadji, Serge Aurier and Aliou Cisse will be assistants at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 Final Draw that will take place at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat tonight. The 24 qualified CAF AFCON 2025 teams will learn their path to the trophy at Final Draw, which starts at 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT | 20h00 Cairo). Yobo, Hadji, Cisse and Aurier will not only pull the balls from the pots, but also be on hand to offer their insights into the groups for the tournament that will be played in Morocco from 21 December, 2025 to 18 January, 2026. They are some of the biggest names in the African game and all have a rich history with the CAF AFCON themselves. JOSEPH YOBO (NIGERIA)Yobo was a commanding centre-back who made 101 appearances for Nigeria’s Super Eagles over a distinguished 13-year career. He was squad captain as the side claimed the CAF AFCON title in 2013 and was a veteran of six continental finals tournaments to go with three FIFA World Cups. He spent the majority of his club career at Everton in England, where he became a fan favourite, but also played in Belgium, France, Spain and Turkey.He played 10 FIFA World Cup matches in 2002, 2010 and 2014. MUSTAPHA HADJI (MOROCCO) Hadji is renowned as one of Morocco’s greatest ever players and was named African Footballer of the Year in 1998. He won 63 caps for his country and scored 12 goals, playing at two FIFA World Cup tournaments.He netted the winner for Morocco against Egypt at the 1998 CAF AFCON, the only team to inflict a defeat on the eventual champions. He also played at the 2000 finals. He had a successful club career in France, Portugal, Spain and England, and in 2011 received the CAF Legends award for his services to the game. SERGE AURIER (COTE D’IVOIRE)Aurier is a two-time winner of the CAF AFCON having lifted the trophy in the 2015 and 2023 editions. The right-back has been a stalwart of the national team since his debut in 2013 and has 93 caps, scoring four goals. His club career has taken him to the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur, and he is a two-time winner of the French Ligue 1.He had the honour of being named in the CAF Team of the Year on four occasions between 2015 and 2019, showing his incredible consistency for club and country in that period. ALIOU CISSE (SENEGAL)Cisse was captain of Senegal when they excelled at the 2002 FIFA World Cup by reaching the quarter-finals against the odds, and while he failed to lift the CAF AFCON as a player, he later did so as coach of the national team. He won 35 caps as an industrious midfielder during a period when he played for Paris Saint-Germain in France, leading Senegal to the 2002 CAF AFCON final where they lost out to Cameroon. He became head coach of the national team in 2015 and would lead them through a golden period that included lifting the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON in 2021, and to FIFA World Cup qualifications in 2018 and 2022. He was named CAF Coach of the Year at the CAF Awards in 2022. CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 qualified teams: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Osimhen accused of punching journalist outside nightclub

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago03 mins

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen finds himself at the center of a controversy that has nothing to do with his goal-scoring prowess. Turkish media, particularly Posta, reported that the forward allegedly assaulted a journalist outside an Istanbul nightclub on Friday night. The incident reportedly occurred as Osimhen was leaving the venue with friends. Apparently irritated by the reporter’s presence, the striker’s reaction may have put him in a precarious situation. Tolga Bozduman, the journalist in question, described the scene: “I was filming Osimhen as he exited, accompanied by three colleagues. When the camera flashes stopped, he became furious. He rushed towards me, shouting, and attempted to grab my camera. When I refused to let go, he punched me. It still hurts. Then he started swearing and said, ‘Destroy the photos, I’ll give you money.’ I refused, and he threatened me, saying, ‘I’ll destroy you.’” As of now, there have been no official statements regarding the incident, neither from Galatasaray nor from the player himself. This isn’t the first time Osimhen has been involved in such a situation. Last August, when he was still with Napoli under Antonio Conte’s management, a similar episode occurred involving a fan filming him outside a venue. This alleged altercation comes at a time when Osimhen has been making headlines for his performances on the pitch. The striker has been a key figure in Galatasaray’s attacking lineup this season, contributing over 20 goals across all competitions. However, this off-field incident could potentially overshadow his sporting achievements and raise questions about his behavior and professionalism.

Nigeria’s Dessers fires Rangers past Dundee United

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago03 mins

Red-hot Nigerian striker Cyril Dessers grabbed the match winner as Rangers came from behind to win for the first time in the Premiership this season with an eventful 3-1 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice. The home side took the lead through loan striker Sam Dalby in the 19th minute but Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande levelled after 37 minutes and defender Robin Propper put his side ahead shortly after half-time with a deflected drive. Dessers, who had scored a stunning equaliser in the 2-1 Europa League defeat by Manchester United on Thursday night, added a wonderful third goal. Philippe Clement’s side are now 10 points behind leaders Celtic, who have played a game less after their match on Saturday against Dundee was called off due to weather damage to their stadium. As expected Clement rang the changes with Clinton Nsiala, Diomande, Ianis Hagi and Dessers returning, with Leon Balogun, Connor Barron and Vaclav Cerny, all injured at Old Trafford, missing, as was Ridvan Yilmaz. However, Dalby, whose loan from Wrexham will go onto the end of the season, pounced after the Rangers defence failed miserably to deal with a long throw from Will Ferry, forcing the ball high past Butland from 10 yards to take his tally to 11 for the season. Rangers equalised when Diomande took a pass from Tavernier and drilled a shot from the edge of the box through a clutch of tangerine jerseys and in at the far post past keeper Jack Walton. United remained dangerous and Butland made a point-blank save from Dalby following a cross from Strain, while Walton made saves from Dessers and Nedim Bajrami to finish the first half. Dessers had the ball in the United net from a Bajrami pass but the offside flag was correctly raised. However, the Nigeria striker flashed a shot from a pass from substitute Zak Lovelace high past Walton in the 86th minute to seal the win.

Serie A: Chukwueze seals AC Milan win in thriller

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago03 mins

Nigerian forward Samuel Chukwueze netted the winning goal as AC Milan staged a dramatic late comeback to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over Parma at San Siro. The Rossoneri, who had been trailing 2-1 until the 91st minute, managed to turn the game on its head in the dying moments, with defender Strahinja Pavlovic playing a crucial role as an improvised striker. The match began with Parma taking an early lead through Matteo Cancellieri, who capitalized on a slip by Theo Hernandez to curl a beautiful shot into the far corner. Milan equalized before halftime when Christian Pulisic converted a penalty after Parma’s goalkeeper Zion Suzuki fouled Pavlovic in the box. Parma regained the lead in the second half through Enrico Delprato, following a swift counter-attack. As the clock ticked down, Milan’s hopes seemed to be fading, especially after VAR ruled out what appeared to be an equalizer from Pavlovic for offside in the 88th minute. However, the Rossoneri refused to give up. Tijjani Reijnders leveled the score at 2-2 in the dying minutes, latching onto a through ball and calmly slotting past Suzuki. With Parma reeling, Milan pushed for the winner, and it was the unlikely figure of Pavlovic who made the difference. In a bold tactical move, manager Sergio Conceicao had pushed the Serbian defender forward as an extra attacker. The gamble paid off in spectacular fashion when Pavlovic nodded down a cross from Bartesaghi, allowing Chukwueze to bundle the ball over the line for a dramatic 3-2 victory. The win comes as a relief for Milan, who had been struggling in Serie A recently despite good performances in other competitions. It also sets up an intriguing Derby della Madonnina against Inter next week, although they will be without the suspended Youssouf Fofana for that crucial encounter.

35th AFCON: Super Eagles may draw Cameroon, Tunisia, South Africa

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago05 mins

The Draw Ceremony for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals will take place at the Mohamed V National Theatre in Rabat, Casablanca on Monday evening. Three-time African champions Nigeria have been placed in Pot 1, alongside seven-time winners Egypt, three-time champions and Cup holders Cote d’Ivoire, two-time winners Algeria, hosts and 1976 champions Morocco and 2021 winners Senegal. The Nigerian side may however be drawn in same group with other top African football countries which include; Cameroon, Tunisia, South Africa and Mali. Super Eagles’ Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle and Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, alongside the Chairman of NFF Technical and Development Committee, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa will attend the colourful ceremony in the heart of Morocco’s administrative capital. The final tournament that begins on 21st December and ends on 18th January is unique in some ways, including being the first ever to start in a particular year and run into another year. Morocco will play host to Africa again since hosting the 1988 tournament that was won by Cameroon. The North African country was handed the hosting right for the 2015 finals, but ducked at the eleventh hour in the midst of the ebola scare across some nations in the continent. Since then, the country has hosted a plethora of football championships, including the African Nations Championship in 2018 (which she won), the Women Africa Cup of Nations in 2022 (in which she finished as runner-up) and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2023. Morocco will also co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup finals alongside neighbours Spain and Portugal. Nigeria’s Super Eagles hold the record for the most medals from the 68-year-old championship: 16 in 20 previous participations. They are three-time winners (1980, 1994, 2013), finished as runners-up on five occasions (1984, 1988, 1990, 2000 and 2023), and took the bronze eight times (1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2019). The Eagles lost out in the quarter-finals in 2008 and were eliminated in the second round in 2021. Only in their debut in 1963, and as Cup holders in 1982, have the Eagles failed to proceed beyond the tournament group phase. While Nigeria will be taking part in her 21st tournament (same as DR Congo and Algeria), Botswana and Comoros will be taking part in only their second respective championships. Egypt will be appearing in their 27th tournament; Cote d’Ivoire 26th and; Cameroon and Tunisia 22nd. Hosts Morocco are appearing in their 20th finals and 2012 champions Zambia in their 19th. 2021 winners Senegal are appearing in their 18th final tournament. Nigeria have also played a total of 104 matches at the final tournament, 4th overall behind Egypt (111), Cote d’Ivoire (106) and Ghana (105). While Cameroonian Rigobert Song (who coached the Indomitable Lions at the last finals in Cote d’Ivoire), Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan, Ghanaian Andrew Ayew and Tunisian Youssef Msakni have played in eight tournaments each, Ayew and Song have played the most matches – 36 each. Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o (currently President of FECAFOOT) has scored the most goals in the final tournament – 18 in the 29 matches he played across eight tournaments. Nigeria’s Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) scored 13 goals across four final tournaments between 1988 and 1994. Pot 1: Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire Pot 2: Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, DR Congo, Burkina Faso Pot 3: Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Benin Republic Pot 4: Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana

Over 90 countries to watch Morocco 2025 AFCON final draw

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago01 mins

More than 90 countries, including in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North and South America will watch the the Final Draw of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations A(FCON), Morocco 2025 on Monday night, 27 January 2025. The draw will be conducted at Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco at 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT/ 20h00 Cairo time). It will be streamed live on CAF official website, CAFONLINE.COM and CAFTV (YouTube). Leading the global broadcasters are CAF’s traditional partners, beIN Sport (MENA, Europe, America, South Pacific), Canal+, SABC, Azam Media, AfroSport, Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, SNRT, DAZN and many others. The Draw will be live on the Free to Air Platforms of 46 African countries, including all the 24 participating nations, thus ensuring access for fans. The CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 will takes place from 21 December 2025 – 18 January 2026.

Sports

CAF unveils Morocco AFCON 2025 new logo

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago03 mins

The countdown to Africa’s biggest event; the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, celebrated a milestone on Sunday with the unveiling of the official Logo for the competition in Rabat, Morocco. The new logo, a modern and iconic symbol for African football, celebrates the heritage and unity of the African continent. The CAF AFCON finals, between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026 in Morocco, will be the latest chapter in the rich history of Africa’s greatest show and the logo for the tournament bridges the world of sport and art, and tells a story of pride, resilience and hope. Inspired by Moroccan ‘’zellij’’, a timeless mosaic art form, the tournament logo redefines football as a canvas where creativity, precision and passion collide. The CAF AFCON 2025 logo reflects the synergy between tradition and modernity. Each pattern and shape symbolizes the unity of nations, players and fans, echoing how football and art come together to create something extraordinary. Just as zellij pieces are meticulously crafted and assembled to form breathtaking designs, every moment in football builds toward a masterpiece of skill, teamwork and triumph. The vibrant colors; gold for achievement, green for unity, red for resilience and blue for boundless potential, go beyond mere aesthetics. They embody the spirit of African football, representing the energy of the game, the strength of the players and the passion of the fans. Merging the geometry of football with the intricate artistry of zellij, it captures the precision and movement of the game while honouring Africa’s cultural legacy. It is a celebration of African craftsmanship and the beauty of football’s dynamism. CAF AFCON 2025 will be a living gallery of African football, where every pass, goal and cheer from the fans contributes to the art of the game. It is more than a tournament, it is a stage where creativity, culture and sport come together to showcase Africa’s soul to the world.