The path to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco became clearer as five more nations secured their spots in the latest round of qualifying matches. Nigeria, Gabon, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda all punched their tickets to the prestigious continental tournament, some without even setting foot on the pitch.
Tunisia’s Dramatic Qualifying Clincher
Tunisia left it late but ultimately prevailed 3-2 over Madagascar in a thrilling encounter held in neutral Pretoria. Ali El Abdi’s diving header in stoppage time ensured the Carthage Eagles would finish in the top two of Group A, extending their remarkable streak of AFCON appearances to 18 – a record in African football.
Nigeria’s Smooth Sailing
Nigeria found themselves in the enviable position of qualifying for the AFCON an hour before their match against Benin kicked off. Libya’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda guaranteed the Super Eagles a top-two finish in Group D. However, Nigeria was held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Benin side, with Victor Osimhen’s late equalizer sparing the giants’ blushes after Mohamed Tijani had put the underdogs ahead.
Gabon, South Africa, and Uganda Advance
Gabon booked their spot from Group B when closest rivals, the Central African Republic, suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lesotho. The result confirmed Gabon’s qualification with two games to spare. Similarly, South Africa and Uganda progressed without kicking a ball, as Congo’s 3-2 loss to South Sudan assured them of top-two finishes in Group K.
Ghana’s Hopes Kept Alive
Ghana, hoping to extend their run of 10 consecutive AFCON appearances, received a lifeline as Sudan were thrashed 4-0 by Niger. Ghana-born Daniel Sosah scored twice in the first half to put Sudan’s qualification on hold. The Black Stars must now win their remaining two fixtures and hope Sudan drop points against Angola to sneak into the tournament.
Algeria Held, Senegal Victorious
Already-qualified Algeria dropped their first points of the campaign in a goalless draw with Equatorial Guinea in sweltering Malabo. Meanwhile, Senegal edged Burkina Faso 1-0 away in their top-of-the-table Group L clash.
As the qualifying campaign nears its climax, the picture of the 24-team AFCON field is becoming clearer. With heavyweights like Nigeria and Tunisia now confirmed, along with surprise packages Gabon and Uganda, the 2025 edition in Morocco promises to be a captivating spectacle showcasing the best of African football.
The final round of qualifiers will see several teams vying to join the party, with the likes of Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe all in with a shot of qualifying should they secure positive home results. As the road to Morocco reaches its final stops, the excitement and anticipation for Africa’s showpiece event continue to build.
