The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) has confirmed that next year’s 24th African Senior Athletics Championships will take place between May 12 and May 17 in Accra, Ghana.
The confirmation was issued by Ghana Athletics following formal approval by the Minister for Sports and Recreation in conjunction with the CAA for the hosting of the continental’s athletics event.
Ahead of the championships, activities will begin early, with CAA administrators and technical officials scheduled to arrive in Accra on May 8, 2026. Members of the CAA Council are expected a day later, on May 9, while the council meeting and the arrival of participating teams are fixed for May 10.
A technical meeting has been slated for May 11, paving the way for the start of competition on May 12, as athletes from across Africa battle for honours.
The championships will wrap up on May 17, with all teams expected to depart Accra on May 18, 2026.
The Minister for Sports and Recreation is expected to officially receive members of the CAA Council and deliver a keynote address before the event fully transitions into the competition phase.
Meanwhile, Ghana and the CAA are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on or before January 8, 2026, subject to the availability of the Sports Minister. In addition, the Local Organising Committee for Accra 2026 had been inaugurated yesterday.
Super Falcons stars Jennifer Echegini, Rinsola Babajide and Shukurat Oladipo were all in action for their respective clubs as the UEFA Women’s Champions League matches were decided in Portugal and Italy.
In Portugal, Echegini was on target for Paris Saint-Germain Women, who settled for a 1–1 draw away to Benfica, the club of fellow Nigerian Christy Ucheibe. The midfielder gave PSG an early lead in the fifth minute, but Benfica responded in the 32nd minute through Carole Costa’s penalty to restore parity.
While Ucheibe remained an unused substitute for the hosts, Echegini completed the full 90 minutes for PSG. Rasheedat Ajibade was absent from the matchday squad as she continues her recovery from injury. Despite the draw, PSG are still searching for their first victory and sit 17th on the table with two points, one place below Benfica, who also have two points.
In Rome, AS Roma enjoyed a convincing outing as they recorded their first win of the campaign, thrashing Austria’s SKN St. Pölten 6–1. Super Falcons duo Babajide and Oladipo featured prominently in the emphatic victory.
Babajide may not have found the back of the net but she provided the assist for Roma’s second goal in the 19th minute, finished off by Alayah Pilgrim. The former Real Betis forward was substituted in the 66th minute, while Oladipo continued her ever-present run, featuring in her sixth match of the competition.
The win lifts Roma to 14th position on the standings with four points from six games.
Leading sports entertainment brand, BetKing, has unveiled a country-wide fan campaign tagged “Feel It First in Morocco” ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON).
The initiative aims to give football lovers an opportunity to experience the thrill of the AFCON with just N5,000.
BetKing is giving fans the chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to Morocco to witness the AFCON Final live.
Fans are expected to stake a minimum of N5,000 on BetKing Sports or Virtuals, and you could feel the AFCON vibe LIVE in Morocco. BetKing also announced its first confirmed winner, Samuel Dairo, who will be travelling to Morocco in January to watch the tournament’s final match live.
Samuel obtained his international passport two years ago with the hope of one day travelling outside Nigeria, although the opportunity never materialized until now. Through the first campaign draw, he has been selected as one of the fans who will enjoy the AFCON experience directly from the stadium in Morocco.
Speaking on the campaign, Nengi Akinola, Head of Marketing at BetKing, said: “AFCON is a unifying force across the continent, and this campaign allows our customers to experience that unity and excitement firsthand. Samuel’s selection marks the beginning of a series of rewards we have lined up for football fans as we countdown to the tournament.”
BetKing confirmed that additional winners will be announced throughout December as more draws are conducted, giving fans across the country multiple opportunities to be selected.
Team Nigeria produced a stunning show of strength, skill and composure yesterday as three teenage weightlifters powered the country to an impressive haul of eight gold medals and one silver on Day One of the weightlifting event at the ongoing African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Competing at the Dream Space Hall, Favour Cornelius (44kg), Esther Chidalu Ezenwa (48kg) and Chinaza Cecilia Ezenwa (53kg) dominated their respective categories, announcing Nigeria’s intent to rule the platform and placing the nation firmly among the leading medal contenders at the Games.
Fourteen-year-old Favour Cornelius set the competition alight in the women’s 44kg category, delivering a flawless performance to sweep all three gold medals on offer.
Cornelius opened Nigeria’s campaign in emphatic fashion, lifting 50kg in the snatch to claim her first gold of the day. She followed it up with a composed and powerful 64kg in the clean and jerk, once again topping the field. Her combined effort of 114kg total sealed a memorable three-gold-medal sweep, outclassing rivals from Angola and Ghana.
Momentum continued in the women’s 48kg category, where Esther Chidalu Ezenwa delivered another commanding display to also secure three gold medals despite stiff competition from her counterparts from Madagascar and Kenya.
In the women’s 53kg category, Chinaza Cecilia Ezenwa capped Nigeria’s remarkable day with two gold medals and one silver, taking the country’s tally to eight gold and one silver overall.
An elated President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Dr Ibrahim Abdul Aladi, praised the athletes for living up to expectations and justifying the confidence placed in them.
“I am extremely proud of these young lifters. Winning eight gold medals and one silver on the first day is a clear statement of our preparation and potential,” Dr Aladi said.
“This performance shows that Nigeria’s future in weightlifting is very bright. The athletes were focused, disciplined and fearless on the platform, and they truly made the nation proud.”
Dr Aladi also reiterated his appreciation to the National Sports Commission for providing the athletes with exposure at the continental level, stressing that such opportunities are crucial for long-term development.
Equally delighted, NWF Technical Director, Sefiya Onubaye, who is serving as one of the technical officials at the competition, described the day’s performance as exceptional.
“What we saw today was the result of hard work, proper coaching and mental toughness,” Onubaye said.
“The girls executed their lifts beautifully and competed with confidence. This is a big motivation for the rest of the team, and it shows that Nigeria is on the right path in youth weightlifting.”
Team Nigeria’s weightlifting campaign could get even better this morning, when Florence Olarinoye steps onto the platform in the women’s 58kg category. With the momentum already firmly in Nigeria’s favour, officials and supporters are optimistic that the country could achieve a clean sweep of gold medals in the women’s events.
Striker Sebastien Haller, whose goals took Cote d’Ivoire to the last Africa Cup of Nations title, could miss out on this month’s tournament in Morocco through injury.
The striker hurt his hamstring playing for Utrecht in the Dutch league at the weekend and has been undergoing treatment since joining up with the Ivorian squad at their training camp in Marbella, Spain this week.
The Ivorian federation said it was still waiting for test results before making any decision on the 31-year-old’s availability.
Haller missed the start of the 2023 finals because of an ankle injury but returned to the side in the knockout stages and scored the winning goal in both the semi-final and final as they won the tournament.
Cote d’Ivoire kick off the defence of their title against Mozambique in Marrakech next Wednesday.
Morocco defeated Jordan 3-2 after extra time to claim the Arab Cup on Thursday thanks to two goals from Abderrazzaq Hamed Allah following a stunning long-range strike from Oussama Tannane.
Morocco opened the scoring after four minutes when Tannane’s audacious shot from the centre circle caught advancing goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila off guard.
Jordan, set to make their World Cup debut in 2026, hit back with a second-half double from Ali Olwan’s header and penalty in the 48th and 68th minutes respectively.
But Hamed Allah scored three minutes from the end to force extra time before grabbing the winner from close range.
Morocco enjoyed another success despite missing several Europe-based players ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
They became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup – also in Qatar three years ago – eliminating Spain and Portugal before falling to France.
Morocco were crowned Under-20 world champions in October when they beat Argentina 2-0 in the final to become the first Arab nation to lift the trophy.
The under-17 side reached the World Cup quarter-finals, while the under-23 team won the Africa Cup of Nations and a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where they took bronze.
Morocco is set to host AFCON from December 21 to January 18.
Easywin, one of Nigeria’s sports betting, casino and entertainment platforms, has rolled out its biggest football promotion, giving customers the chance to experience the thrill of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) live in Morocco.
Every week, throughout the campaign, players stand the chance to win free all-expense-paid trips to watch Africa’s biggest football tournament in person. The Easywin AFCON Promotion rewards both new and existing customers, offering multiple avenues to win weekly.
A statement by the sports betting platform said each week, lucky winners will be selected for an exclusive football getaway that includes round-trip flights to Morocco, hotel accommodation and matchday access to live AFCON games.
This initiative reinforces Easywin’s mission to bring entertainment, excitement, and life-changing opportunities to Nigerians.
The platform, however, added that in addition to the weekly grand prize trips, thousands of customers will win consolation prizes, including AFCON matchday tickets or its cash equivalent.
Speaking about the promotion, Marketing Lead at Easywin, Anthony, said: “Football is the heartbeat of the continent, and AFCON is where the pulse is strongest.
“This promotion is a testament to our commitment to rewarding our customers at Easywin where everyone has a genuine chance to win.
“We’re excited to give our customers a chance to witness Africa’s biggest football moments live, all expenses on us. With weekly opportunities to win and exciting consolation prizes, every Easywin player now has a real shot at becoming part of African football history.”
Players can participate by going to www.Easywin.ng to start any game on Easywin and climbing the leaderboard displayed transparently on the website.
Easywin affirmed that it remained committed to delivering transparent, rewarding, and socially responsible gaming experiences, noting that with a fast-growing customer base and nationwide reach, it continues to transform lives through exciting draws, jackpots, and lifestyle rewards.
Ahmed Musa, Nigeria’s most capped international footballer with 111 appearances, has announced his retirement from the Super Eagles , ending a 15-year success-laden career with the national team.
Musa was part of the Super Eagles squad that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and became Nigeria’s highest World Cup goal scorer with four goals, including memorable braces against Argentina in 2014 and Iceland in 2018.
Musa who played across clubs in Nigeria, Holland, Russia, England and Turkey; and fondly called the ‘Governor’ for his charismatic leadership, said he did his best wearing the national team’s colour.
“I wore this badge with pride for 15 years,” stated the 33- year-old on his social media account.“ From a 17-year-old boy answering every call to becoming the most capped Super Eagle with 111 appearances.
“ AFCON champion. Nigeria’s highest World Cup goal scorer. Captain. Servant. Believer.
“I gave everything.
Thank you Nigeria… my heart will always beat green, ” he added.
Musa made his international debut at 17 for the Super Eagles in a qualification match for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations against Madagascar on 5th September 2010 and played his last match in the famous West Africa’s ‘ Jollof derby’ when Nigeria beat Ghana 2-1 at the London Unity Cup on May 28th 2025.
Musa bows out as Nigeria’s most capped player, having overtaken Joseph Yobo’s long-standing 101 record in 2021.
Apart from being a gold medal winner with the Flying Eagles at the 2011 African Youth Championship (U-20 AFCON), he was also a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner in 2013 as well as being a bronze medallist at the 2019 edition in Egypt as well as being silver medallist at the 2023 tournament in Cote d’Ivoire
Expectedly, tributes have started pouring in for the affable ‘Governor’ from his former Super Eagles teammates with his erstwhile deputy, William Troost-Ekong , who also bade the national team bye, offering a crisp single-word tribute: “Legend.”
A sentiment equally echoed by Wilfred Ndidi, Besiktas midfielder, who wrote matter-of –factly: “Skippo. Governor. Legend.”
While the 2019 AFCON top scorer Odion Ighalo also paid his respects, simply posting: “Skippo.”
The leadership of the National Sports Commission(NSC), was also effusive with praises by “ acknowledging Ahmed Musa’s immense contribution to Nigerian football and wishes him continued success in the next chapter of his journey. Nigeria stands with you, always.”
Trabzonspor of Turkey striker Paul Onuachu and FC Nantes defender, Chidozie Awaziem, believe the Super Eagles acquainted themselves well despite losing 2-1 to the Pharaohs of Egypt in Tuesday’s international friendly match at the Cairo international Stadium ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Onuachu who incidentally made a scoring debut against the Pharaohs in a pre-AFCON friendly in 2019, said the Super Eagles’ spirited performance and tactical progression was more important than the score line, adding it was opportunity for the coach Eric Sekou Chelle-led side to get set for the continental showpiece.
“I felt good playing against them, especially knowing I had scored against Egypt in the past,” Onuachu told the NFFTv. “I played with a lot of confidence and focused on my game. Unfortunately, the goal didn’t come this time, but I think both the team and I had a good game.”
Similarly, defender Chidozie Awaziem who captained and scored the Super Eagles’ solitary goal in Tuesday’s encounter , equally spoke in the same vein.
“It was a good test though the result wasn’t good, it wasn’t what we wanted,” said Awaziem, who scored the Super Eagles equaliser in a 2-1 loss to Egypt in Cairo. “We dominated the game, we had them sit back and we had so many chances to score.
“This game was to test our readiness for the AFCON and for the coach to try new players and other tactics so that we prepare good.
“We will take the positives out of this game and move on to the AFCON.”
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles are scheduled to fly to their AFCON 2025 base in Fès today in a chartered flight. Nigeria is drawn in Group C, where they will face Tanzania on December 23rd with other matches against Tunisia and Uganda on December 28 and 30 respectively.
Galatasaray ace striker Victor Osimhen last night finally breezed into the Super Eagles’ camp in Cairo to complete the team’s 28-man roster ahead of their departure to Fes for the 35th Africa cup of Nations , Morocco 2025.
He joined yesterday following the arrival of FC Paris winger, Moses Simon, much to the delight of the rank and file of the team who were in a celebratory mood with the birthday celebration of defender Wilfred Ndidi and newly invited Blackburn defender, Ryan Alebiosu.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles are scheduled to fly to their AFCON 2025 base in Fès today in a chartered flight. Nigeria is drawn in Group C, where they will face Tanzania on December 23rd with other matches against Tunisia and Uganda on December 27 and 30 respectively.
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo believes Osimhen should be named captain of the team to the 2025 AFCON.
The retirement of William Ekong has meant that the Super Eagles will have a new captain leading them to the AFCON with Ndidi widely tipped to take up this role.
However, Ighalo maintained that Osimhen is best suited for this position.
“There are several players ahead of him (as senior players), but now Osimhen is doing well and he has the balls to demand what the team wants,” Ighalo said in an interview.
“Ndidi is not the talking type, he’s a very calm guy, but Osimhen is outspoken, he is going to speak on behalf of the team, he’s going to ginger the boys, he’s going to fight for the boys, he will speak to anybody he needs to speak to make sure they are okay.
“The captain job is not easy because your neck in on the line, because whatever the boys demand it’s you that will put it forward to the NFF.
“And if NFF want to come for anybody, they are coming for you because you are the captain.
“With Osimhen, he will speak and nothing can happen because he’s the biggest player in the team, so they won’t want to look down on him, they will listen to him because he’s doing well.
“When you’re doing well, you have every power to demand for stuff and he’s in that position.
“He has the character to step up and demand for the team because when you see him he is hustling, he’s showing it on the pitch and so you as a player will listen to him and also fight for the team.”
to becoming the most capped Super Eagle with 111 appearances.
