AFCON
Sorry No Longer The Hardest Word At Cup Of Nations –
Social media has offered players at the Africa Cup of Nations an opportunity to apologise for errors at the tournament and try to appease disappointed and enraged fans.
Never before has any tournament seen as many mea culpas from players taking responsibility for their side’s elimination and who are hoping to mitigate any backlash.
The latest has come from Senegal centre back Moussa Niakhate, who was the only player not to convert his penalty in the shootout that saw hosts Ivory Coast eliminate the holders in the last-16 on Monday.
“Sorry, I am aware that this missed penalty led to our elimination from this Cup of Nations,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“It shattered the dream of my teammates, the staff and millions of supporters of this national team. You don’t deserve this. This group had the quality and the objective of returning with the cup to Dakar,” he added.
“I am aware of this and I take responsibility for it. This is going to be hard for me to swallow and I know I will never forget. This feeling of guilt, no one will be able to take it away from me, not even my family or even this group (of players) despite their unfailing support.”
The Nottingham Forest defender’s post came not long after Morocco fullback Achraf Hakimi took to Instagram to apologise for missing a late penalty and the chance to equalise in Tuesday’s last-16 defeat to South Africa.
“Today is a very difficult and sad day for our elimination,” said the defender on Wednesday after a surprise 2-0 loss. “I would like to apologise for the penalty, I took responsibility to help the team, but unfortunately it didn’t work.”
Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar, who was injured for all but 13 minutes of his country’s campaign in the Ivory Coast, still felt the need to try and quell discontent at home.
“My teammates and I gave everything, but it wasn’t enough. We offer our sincere apologies to the Cameroonian people whom we have disappointed. We look forward to seeing you at the next Indomitable Lions matches,” he wrote.
Ghana coach Chris Hughton was attacked by angry fans after they lost their first game and the players had to walk a gauntlet of abuse from their own media after a 2-2 draw with Mozambique in Abidjan meant they were eliminated in the group phase.
Veteran forward Dede Ayew, whose new record of most Cup of Nations appearances went uncelebrated, made a video accepting the blame on behalf of the squad.
“As the captain of the squad, I take full responsibility for what happened on the pitch. For the playing body, we should have done better,” he said.
The Ghana Football Association also extended its sincerest apologies ahead of planned demonstrations outside their offices in Accra this weekend.
“We understand the disappointment and frustration that such results can bring to our passionate football-loving nation. Our team’s performance fell short of the high expectations we all share, and we take full responsibility for the disappointment,” a statement said.
-Reuters
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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