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The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 is set to captivate football fans across the continent and beyond as Africa’s biggest football tournament returns with renewed excitement. Hosted by Morocco, the competition will officially kick off with its opening match on 22 December 2025, running through to the final on 18 January 2026. This edition marks another milestone in African football, bringing together 24 national teams competing for continental glory across several host cities in Morocco. With world-class stadiums, passionate fans, and star-studded squads, AFCON 2025 promises a thrilling month of football. TOURNAMENT FORMAT The 24 teams are divided into six groups of four teams each. After the group stage, the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the Round of 16. From there, the tournament progresses through the knockout rounds to the final. GROUP A Morocco (Hosts) Mali Zambia Comoros Group A features the host nation ...

The situation involving a Nigerian military aircraft that made an unscheduled landing in Burkina Faso remains unresolved, contrary to earlier reports suggesting a release. As of today, both the aircraft and the Nigerian military personnel onboard are still in Burkina Faso, with diplomatic engagements ongoing to resolve the matter. The incident began on 8 December 2025, when a Nigerian Air Force transport aircraft, reportedly on a routine international mission, encountered a technical issue while in flight. According to Nigerian authorities, aviation safety protocols required the crew to divert and land at the nearest suitable airport, which was located in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The landing, from Nigeria’s perspective, was purely precautionary and driven by safety considerations, not military or political intent. However, Burkinabe authorities viewed the aircraft’s entry into their airspace differently. Officials in Burkina Faso stated that the aircraft en...

Hong Kong has reached a defining political moment with the disbandment of its last major opposition party, effectively closing the chapter on organised pro-democracy politics in the city. The decision, taken through an internal vote by party members, reflects the reality of an increasingly restrictive political environment and signals a profound shift in Hong Kong’s governance and civic space. For decades, the party stood as a central pillar of opposition politics, advocating democratic reforms, civil liberties, and government accountability. It played a key role in legislative debates, public protests, and electoral contests, becoming a familiar and influential force in Hong Kong’s political landscape. Its dissolution is therefore not just the end of a political organisation, but the symbolic conclusion of an era in which pluralism and open political competition were part of everyday life in the city. The road to disbandment has been long and pressured. Sinc...

In the wake of the attempted coup in the Benin Republic, West Africa is witnessing a strong and united response aimed at restoring stability and preventing further breakdown of constitutional order. Two major developments now define the situation on ground: the deployment of ECOWAS standby forces and Nigeria’s formal move to send troops into Benin to support the ongoing peace mission. ECOWAS DEPLOYS STANDBY FORCES TO BENIN Following the failed coup, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) acted swiftly by announcing the deployment of its regional standby troops into Benin. The contingent includes military personnel from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone — countries committed to safeguarding democracy and resisting unconstitutional changes of government in the region. The rapid deployment demonstrates ECOWAS’s renewed determination to curb military takeovers, especially as West Africa has in recent years experienced a worr...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a significant tightening of cash-withdrawal limits in an effort to combat money-laundering and increase financial transparency across the country. Beginning January 1, 2026, individuals will be limited to weekly cash withdrawals of 500,000 naira, while corporate entities will be allowed up to 5 million naira per week — with additional regulatory fees applied for exceeding those thresholds. This move comes at a time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to transition toward a cash-limited, digitally-tracked financial system. By reducing the volume of physical currency flowing through unmonitored channels, regulators aim to restrict illicit financial activities, tax evasion, and untraceable transactions that have historically undermined fiscal accountability. WHY THE POLICY MATTERS Nigeria has long grappled with the challenge of a predominantly cash-based economy where large informal markets and non-bank transactions ...

Guinea-Bissau has entered yet another turbulent chapter in its political history as the nation becomes engulfed in uncertainty, military takeover, and civic fear. In what is being described as a decisive and aggressive shift of power, the Armed Forces of Guinea-Bissau declared that they have seized control of the government, dissolved the political authority of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, and suspended all election-related operations. This dramatic takeover was accompanied by alarming scenes of gunfire and civilian panic in Bissau, the country’s capital. A MILITARY COMMAND TAKES CONTROL The self-proclaimed “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order” announced that it has assumed full administrative and political control. Their justification for the intervention stems from alleged electoral irregularities and what they described as “a national security necessity.” The declaration also included immediate implementation of curfews, border closures, and...