CAF Marks 100 Days to Morocco 2025 Kick-Off

The CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 will kick-off in Morocco in exactly 100 days, bringing together passionate fans from across the continent and showcasing Africa’s football excellence to the world. Africa’s biggest sporting event is expected to break the records set by the hugely successful 2023 edition in Côte d’Ivoire, which attracted a global television audience of over 1.5 billion and more than 2.4 billion digital streams. Morocco will play host to the continental finals for the first time since 1988, and will provide world-class facilities for the 24-team tournament that runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, where Cote d’Ivoire will defend their title. The finals will be played in nine stadiums across six cities – Rabat, Casablanca, Fès, Tangier, Marrakech and Agadir. The Kingdom successfully staged the recent CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2024 and the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, showcasing its organisational excellence and the passion of fans for the game. It comes as Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, the second time the global showpiece event will be staged on the continent, underlining the country’s status as a hub for world football. Morocco promises to provide a fan experience like no other away from the pitch with excellent hospitality and electric action on the field of play in state-of-the-art stadiums in a true celebration of African football. The tournament will be the 35th staging of the continental finals and another chapter in the rich history of a competition first played in 1957.

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Morocco 2025 AFCON Ticket Go on Sale Sept. 25

As the football fans across the globe prepare for Africa’s biggest event, and to mark the 100 Days to kick-off of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) have announced Ticket Sales Process and a number of initiatives to enhance Fan Experience. Tickets for the CAF AFCON, Morocco 2025 will go on sale on 25 September 2025. Today, CAF and LOC launched the registration window for the First Phase of Ticket Sales. Tickets will be available at https://tickets.cafonline.com/en/ but fans can register online from 12 September to 24 September 2025 to get notification of when the sales open. Visa, a proud official partner of CAF and global leader in digital payments, will have an exclusive two-day pre-sale window for Visa cardholders, giving them access to the First Phase of Ticket sales from 12h00 Moroccan time on 25 September 2025 to 27 September 2025. On 27 September 2025 at 14h00 Moroccan time, the First Phase Ticket Sales will be on sale for the general public. Additionally, CAF will announce a new partner for Hospitality Packages on Monday, 15 September 2025. The Yalla App – a New Game Changer Another major innovation is the Yalla App that will be launched on 25 September 2025 which will serve as the gateway for fans. Every ticket holder will have to register for a Fan ID through the app, enabling seamless stadium and fan zone access. The Yalla app also introduces the E-Visa for AFCON, allowing supporters worldwide to apply digitally. Fans will enjoy real-time updates, tailored information, and exclusive tournament content, making Morocco 2025 the most connected TotalEnergies CAF AFCON ever. Ticketing Phases and the Ticketing Journey: First Phase: 25 September (opens 12h00 Morocco time) – 27 September (closes 12h00 Morocco time) | VISA-pre sale window exclusive for VISA card holders 27 September (opens 14h00 Morocco time) | General Public Sale (all payment methods accepted) restricted to 30% of stadium capacity Second Phase: 21 October (opens 12h00 Morocco time) – 23 October (closes 12h00 Morocco time) | Second window for VISA-pre sale for, exclusive for VISA card holders 23 October (opens 14h00 Morocco time) | General Public Sale (all payment methods accepted) with additional 30% of stadium capacity Third Phase: 21 November | All Matches (all payment methods accepted) Royal Air Maroc, the Official Global Partner and Airline for CAF AFCON 2025, will support fans with enhanced services. The airline is adding over 660 additional flights, increasing capacity by more than 50%. Special packages will also be available for the African diaspora traveling through Casablanca, turning stopovers into opportunities to attend TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2025 matches.

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Onana Joins Trabzonspor on Loan

Manchester United’s Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana has completed a season-long loan move to Turkish side Trabzonspor. Onana’s future at Old Trafford was in doubt after United signed Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens for 21 million euros (£18.2 million) plus add-ons. The 29-year-old Onano joined United from Inter Milan in 2023 for an initial 51 million euros plus a potential four million euros in add-ons and ended his first season with an FA Cup winners’ medal. But Onana’s increasingly erratic performances and clashes with manager Ruben Amorim last season left his position in doubt. A hamstring injury prevented Onana from being involved with the team during pre-season and he made a mistake in his first game of the campaign in United’s humiliating League Cup exit at Grimsby. The arrival of Lammens was the final straw. “Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has joined Trabzonspor on loan for the duration of the 2025/26 season, subject to international clearance and registration,” United confirmed in a statement. “The move has been completed ahead of the Turkish transfer window closing on Friday. We would like to wish Andre good luck,” the club statement added. United return to action after the international break with an away trip to rivals Manchester City on Sunday.

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Madrid to Host 2027 Champions League Final

Madrid will host the 2027 men’s Champions League final – with Warsaw to stage the women’s final. Atletico Madrid’s 70,000-capacity Estadio Metropolitano has been awarded the men’s showpiece after Milan’s San Siro was stripped of the honour. Uefa decided to reopen bidding for the event amid concerns about refurbishment plans at the San Siro – and the match will now take place in the Spanish capital. Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano last hosted the Champions League final in 2019, when Liverpool beat Tottenham. The women’s final will be staged in Poland’s capital, at Warsaw’s Stadion Narodowy. Uefa also announced that the Super Cup match in 2026 will take place in Salzburg, Austria. Uefa took the decisions at a meeting of its executive committee in Tirana in Albania where it also discussed requests from Spain and Italy’s football associations to play domestic league matches abroad but did not come to a decision on the issue. “The committee acknowledged it as an important and growingissue but expressed the desire to ensure that it has the views of all stakeholders before coming to a final decision,” said a Uefa statement. “There are many issues to resolve and as the European governing body, Uefa has a responsibility to take all such factors into account. “As a result, no decision was taken today but Uefa will undertake a round of consultation with all stakeholders in European football – including fans.” The executive committee did approve an amendment to the 2025-26 Uefa club competitions’ regulations that will permit clubs to temporarily replace one outfield player with a long-term injury or illness in their squads during the league phase until matchday six. Uefa said: “The reasoning for the adaptation is to ensure that squad lists are not unfairly reduced and players are safeguarded from additional workload pressure.”

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Dorcas Koki Joins Nigeria U17 Women’s Team as Media Officer

The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed Erenayo Dorcas Koki, a journalist and football commentator with NigeriaInfo FM, as new Media Officer of the U17 women national team, Flamingos. Koki, who has under her belt, years of experience in covering local and international sporting events and programmes, has a reputation for bold story-telling, engaging analysis, and strong advocacy for women sports, especially women football. Port Harcourt-based Koki steps into the shoes left by the vibrant, highly energetic and sapient Monsurah Olatunji, who was the team’s Media Officer at last year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in the Dominican Republic, and who had taken over from the affable Faith Meremegbunam. Koki is intentional about bringing the Flamingos, 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup bronze medallists, closer to Nigerians and the rest of the world, by deploying skills that will ensure greater visibility for the team. “I will work with the NFF Communication department to amplify the voices of the players and coaches, to ensure the team’s journey is shared with all stakeholders countrywide and beyond. My vision is to make the Flamingos a household name, not only during tournaments but all-year round. We will tell their stories in ways that inspire pride, build fan connection, and position the team as the future of Nigeria football, by combining fresh digital content, stronger media engagement and authentic story-telling.” The Flamingos will resume camping on Sunday as they commence preparations for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, taking place in Morocco, 17th October – 8th November.

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World Cup Qualifier: Gabonese Officials to Take Charge of S’Africa Vs Nigeria

World football-governing body, FIFA has appointed Gabonese official Pierre Ghislain Atcho as referee for next Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and South Africa in Bloemfontein. It is a Matchday 8 encounter in the African qualification series, and will hold at the Toyota Stadium. Atcho’s compatriots Boris Marlaise Ditsoga, Amos Abeigne Ndong and Cregue Fleury Moukagni will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively. Olivier Safari Kabene from the Democratic Republic of Congo will serve as the referee assessor while Ugandan Mike Letti will be in the role of commissioner. Chadian official Allaou Mahamat will be the referee for Saturday’s Matchday 7 encounter between Nigeria and Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, with his compatriots Bogollah Issa, Moussa Hafiz and Abdelkerim Ousmane in the roles of assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively. Taher Abdelsalam Mahmoud from Egypt will serve as referee assessor while Bakary Jammeh from Gambia will be the commissioner.

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Flamingos Resume Camping Ahead 2025 U17 Women’s World Cup

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has invited a total of 30 players to the camp of Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, as the team kickstarts preparations for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, taking place in Morocco. Invited are four goalkeepers, nine defenders, nine midfielders and nine strikers. 2022 FIFA World Cup bronze medallists, Nigeria overpowered South Africa and Algeria in the qualifying series to pick a ticket to the first-ever 24-team FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, which will be played across four venues in two cities in Morocco, 17th October – 8th November. Venues earmarked for the finals (the first of five straight final tournaments to be hosted by Morocco) are the Prince Héritier Moulay el-Hassan Sports Complex, Prince Moulay Abdellah Sport Complex, Al Barid Stadium and Mohamed VI Football Academy. The invited players are expected to arrive camp in Abuja on Sunday, 7th September. ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS Goalkeepers: Elizabeth Boniface (Abia Angels); Onyinyechi Opara (Imo Strikers); Abigail Nmecha (Team Abia); Sylva Echefu (Bayelsa Queens) Defenders: Hannah Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies); Jumai Adebayo (Naija Ratels); Azeezat Oduntan (FC Robo); Christiana Sunday (Imo Strikers); Ufuoma Lucky (Royal Queens, Warri); Choice Ovwighovwiroro (New Generation, Abuja); Maryjane Ikeche (Ahudiyannem Queens); Blessed Isigbo (Remo Stars Ladies); Grace Ufot (Fortress Ladies) Midfielders: Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens); Muinat Rotimi (Nakamura Football Academy); Fatimah Shuaib (Confluence Queens); Waliat Rotimi (Nakamura Football Academy); Taiwo Lukman (Confluence Queens); Esther Lasisi (N-Youth, Abuja); Precious Nkwocha (Imo Strikers); Gift Anekan (New Generation, Abuja); Ayomide Abubakar (Onimarg FC) Forwards: Kaosara Olanrewaju (Aisha Yusuf Academy, Lagos); Kindness Ifeanyi (Bayelsa Queens); Queen Joseph (Fosla Academy); Shavih Istifanus (Youth Arise Academy); Tabitha Terlumu (Braavos, Edo); Destiny Itodore (Delta Queens); Chisom Nwachukwu (Rivers Angels); Nofisat Tijani (Youthful Talent 99)

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World Cup Qualifier: Eagles Insist Focus Is On Amavubi Before Bafana

The Super Eagles are not making the mistake of thinking too much about the showdown with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, but are rather focused on their clash with Rwanda’s Amavubi in Uyo on Saturday, according to team captain William Ekong. “You take one step at a time. We have Rwanda to play on Saturday, and there are three points there. After that is concluded, then we begin to think of South Africa. There are three points also in there when we play in Bloemfontein, but that is a few days after Rwanda. Rwanda comes first,” Ekong said on Thursday. Nigeria has not had a campaign to shout about, especially in the first four matches of which she won none, but Ekong says the squad has committed to taking all points in the remaining games, believing that will be good enough to send Nigeria to the 48-nation finals in North America next summer. “We will do our very best to go all out and win the remaining four matches. Hopefully, that will be good enough to take us there.” The encounter with Rwanda, who lost the Matchday 5 that brought both teams at loggerheads in Kigali in March, is a Matchday 7 fixture, while the confrontation with South Africa is a Matchday 8 encounter. During the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals in France, the Super Eagles were focused on a potential Match-of-the-Tournament clash with Brazil in the quarter-finals, and failed to focus on their Round of 16 tie with Denmark. Following a 4-1 thumping of Nigeria in the game, Denmark’s ace winger Brian Laudrup said at the post-match conference: “Nigeria should learn to count one before four.” Nigeria’s camp attained full capacity on Wednesday evening, with the arrivals of midfielders Raphael Onyedika and Christantus Uche, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Tolu Arokodare.

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