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AFCON Final Chaos? Senegal Flags Concerns Over Security, Hotels, Training & Tickets.
The Senegal national football team has raised serious issues regarding security, accommodation, training facilities, and ticketing ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said it felt compelled to speak out “for the sake of transparency and defence of the interests of the Senegal national team,” citing multiple lapses in preparations for the final.
Addressed to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the public, the FSF highlighted issues that it said could compromise safety, fairness, and organisation during the tournament’s climax.
The federation criticized the lack of adequate security upon the team’s arrival in Morocco, particularly at Rabat railway station. “The FSF deplores the clear absence of sufficient safety measures when the Senegalese delegation arrived at the Rabat railway station,” the statement read, warning that the situation exposed players and officials “to risks incompatible with the standards of a competition of this magnitude and the status of a continental final.”
Senegal also raised complaints about hotel arrangements, noting that formal protests had to be made before suitable accommodation was provided. “A 5-star hotel was finally assigned to the Lions, ensuring the necessary recovery conditions,” the FSF said.
Concerns over the training venue were also expressed, with the team rejecting the Mohammed VI Complex because it serves as the base camp for their opponents, which they argued threatened sporting fairness. “The FSF has officially notified CAF of its categorical refusal to hold training sessions at the Mohammed VI Complex,” the statement added.
Ticketing arrangements were another point of contention. The federation said access to VIP and VVIP tickets was extremely limited. While Senegal purchased the maximum number of tickets allowed—300 Category 1, 850 Category 2, and 1,700 Category 3—the FSF stressed that these allocations were insufficient relative to demand.
“The official endowment is only two VVIP tickets,” the statement noted, highlighting that, unlike the semi-final, no additional VIP tickets were provided for the final.
The federation concluded by urging CAF and the Local Organising Committee to take immediate corrective actions to ensure fairness, equal treatment, and safety. “The Senegalese Football Federation calls on CAF and the Local Organising Committee to implement all necessary measures to uphold Fair Play and protect all participants, essential for the success of this African football festival,” it said.
Senegal will be aiming to secure another continental title when they face their opponents in the AFCON 2025 final, following their semi-final victory over Egypt.
Bamidele Kehinde, Director of Dynamic Ambassadors for Social Orientation Initiatives and the City Transformation Project, has expressed appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria for its efforts in securing the release of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who was reportedly held in detention in the Republic of Benin for over two years under difficult conditions.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Pastor Egbaji, a Nigerian cleric, was said to have endured harsh treatment during his detention, including prolonged confinement. His release followed a presidential pardon granted by the authorities in Benin Republic under President Patrice Talon.
Speaking on News Central TV, Dr. Kehinde praised the diplomatic efforts that led to the cleric’s freedom, describing the process as lengthy and challenging. He noted that significant progress was achieved after Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
He stated that although there was no personal connection or financial influence involved, the minister actively engaged Benin Republic authorities through diplomatic channels. According to him, her visit and negotiations played a key role in securing Pastor Egbaji’s release.
Dr. Kehinde also commended all individuals and institutions that contributed to the advocacy efforts, including Moses Eyo, Dickson Umu Unung, the Cross River State Government, CP Alobi Lawrence (rtd), Joseph Bisong Ayi, Blessing Harrison, Eze Sampson, and Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo.
He said their combined efforts were instrumental in achieving the cleric’s freedom.
He added that while Egbaji’s release is a major relief, the cleric now faces the task of recovering and rebuilding his life after years of hardship. He called for continued support to help him reintegrate into society.
Dr. Kehinde also urged stronger government commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens abroad and enhancing diplomatic engagement across West Africa to prevent similar cases in the future.
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has provided an update on its ongoing nationwide recruitment exercise.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The board stated that 1,120,491 applications were successfully completed and processed, allowing candidates to proceed to the computer-based test (CBT) stage.
It also disclosed that 432,935 applications were left incomplete, while 360,923 applicants were disqualified during screening and shortlisting for failing to meet the required criteria.
In total, the recruitment exercise recorded over 1.8 million applications across the country.
The exercise covers agencies under the board, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Correctional Service.
CDCFIB also released a breakdown of CBT performance, showing that 221,996 candidates scored between 0–40, 229,155 scored between 41–60, 278,543 scored between 61–80, while 142,697 scored between 81–100.
The recruitment process is now expected to move to the next stage, which includes physical screening and document verification. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with details of their screening venues, dates, and required documents.
The board reiterated that the entire process is free of charge and advised applicants to rely only on official communication channels for updates, warning against misinformation and unauthorized messages circulating online.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted precise airstrikes in the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest, resulting in the elimination of several terrorist elements on Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, who noted that military operations in the North-East continue to maintain strong pressure on insurgent groups.
He explained that the operation was based on credible intelligence, supported by Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities, which identified active terrorist presence within fortified positions and underground hideouts.
According to him, NAF air platforms successfully engaged the targets using precision-guided munitions, destroying the structures, neutralising multiple terrorists, and dismantling key logistics facilities. This was later confirmed through battle damage assessments.
The statement added that sustained air operations have continued to weaken terrorist networks, disrupting their activities and forcing them into more defensive and unstable responses.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, also reiterated the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining continuous, intelligence-driven operations aimed at completely neutralising terrorist threats.
He further assured that the NAF remains focused on protecting its personnel, safeguarding national security, and ensuring the safety of citizens, while continuing precision operations in line with strict rules of engagement to minimise civilian impact.
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