My Daily AFCON Diary: From Maroc ’88 Heartbreak To Super Eagles’ 2025 Return

THE last time that Morocco hosted the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in March, 1988, I was a “Youth Corper” in Enugu, old Anambra State, serving the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO), in Emene, Enugu.

I remember walking a long distance with my friends from our Corpers Lodge to a British Colonial era coal facility in Enugu to watch the final match where Cameroun defeated Nigeria 1-0 through a controversial Emmanuel Kunle penalty. The long trek back home after the match was a ponderous one as we digested the disappointment of losing a second straight final to Cameroun, following their more deserving and comprehensive 3-1 victory in the 1984 final in Ivory Coast.

When I interviewed the late Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai for his biography which I co-authored with him before he died in July this year, Dodo Mayana recalled the events of AFCON ’84 and ’88 where he was Nigeria’s numero uno in very interesting detail. (Be on the lookout for a formal release of the book in the near future).

Thirty-seven years on from that 1988 disappointment in Morocco, the Super Eagles return to the North African country chasing another AFCON glory in 2025. And that is why I found myself at the Lagos airport boarding a Air Maroc flight to Casablanca this Thursday evening, 18 December, 2025.

I am in the company of Complete Sports freelance photographer Ganiyu Yusuf and Segun Ogunfeyitimi, himself a former photographer with our famous magazine, Complete Football. Both of them regale me with stories of their exploits together at various local and international assignments as we waited for our flight.

I am pleasantly surprised at some of the revelations that came to light which they had kept from me while I was editor of Complete Football and Group Managing Director of Complete Communications Limited. I thought to myself: These guys are simply amazing.

Presently, our Air Maroc flight was called for boarding. On the same flight with us are some members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club who also came over to introduce themselves to me and to share stories of how much they loved my work with Complete Football back in the day. I thanked them for their kind words as we all looked forward to a safe flight to Casablanca, the commercial capital of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Tighten your seat belts in readiness for takeoff, came the voice of an Air Maroc air hostess. Casablanca, here we come……