The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers have intensified as 15 teams have secured their spots for the tournament in Morocco, leaving nine spots still up for grabs. With fierce competition, the stage is set for an exciting finale in the quest for a place in next year’s tournament.
Our correspondent reports that Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria, defending champions and runners-up from the last edition, clinched their qualifications alongside teams like South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda, thanks to crucial performances and favorable results in recent qualifiers.
Key Qualifying Matches and Results:
– Tunisia narrowly edged Madagascar 3-2 with Ali El Abdi’s late header, marking their 18th consecutive AFCON qualification.
– Gabon qualified from Group B without playing, benefitting from Central African Republic’s 1-0 loss to Lesotho.
– South Africa and Uganda advanced in Group K after Congo fell 3-2 to South Sudan, securing the top two spots.
– Nigeria confirmed its qualification as Libya defeated Rwanda 1-0, securing Nigeria’s spot in Group D, despite their own 1-1 draw against Benin, saved by Victor Osimhen’s equalizer.
In other groups, Ghana kept their qualification hopes alive after Niger’s 4-0 victory over Sudan. Ghana now faces must-win games to stay in the race for AFCON 2025.
So far, the qualified teams include:
– Morocco (Host)
– Burkina Faso** (Group L)
– Cameroon (Group J)
– Algeria (Group E)
– DR Congo (Group H)
– Senegal (Group L)
– Egypt (Group C)
– Angola (Group F)
– Equatorial Guinea (Group E)
– Côte d’Ivoire (Group G)
– Gabon (Group B)
– Uganda (Group K)
– South Africa (Group K)
– Tunisia (Group A)
– Nigeria (Group D)
As the race continues, teams like Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe look to clinch their tickets in the next round of matches. The path to Morocco is narrowing, promising an action-packed journey to the finals.
