NOUAKCHOTT — Egypt, Senegal, DR Congo and Angola have joined hosts Morocco secured their spots at the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, as well as the trio of Algeria, Cameroon and Burkina Faso, who booked their tickets in the past two days.
The Pharaohs maintained their perfect Group C winning streak with a narrow 1-0 win over Mauritania thanks to a solitary strike in the dying minutes by striker Ibrahim Adel.
The win not only stretches Egypt’s group lead, but seals qualification to the 2025 showpiece for the North African giants who have now won four out of four of the qualifier fixtures.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan released Liverpool star Salah before the return match with Mauritania, fearing the artificial pitch in Nouakchott could heighten the risk of injury.
Without their talisman, Egypt had to wait 85 minutes before substitute Adel netted to maintain the perfect Group C record of the record seven-time AFCON champions.
A 96th-minute winner from Sadio Mane earned Senegal a 1-0 win over Malawi and a place at the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco next year, but Ghana is in serious danger of missing out after a surprise loss to Sudan, Reuters reported.
Senegal had 30 attempts at goal against their hosts but it took until the final seconds for Mane to seal victory with a 25-yard free kick that curled into the bottom corner of the net.
The 2021 winners, who recently parted ways with long-time coach Aliou Cisse, join Burkina Faso as the qualified nations from Group L in the 24-team finals with two more matches to play in the November international window.
DR Congo continued their perfect run in Group H with a commanding 2-0 win over Tanzania at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium that helped them seal their place at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
After a goalless first half, Meschack Elia broke the deadlock in the 87th minute with a composed finish following Nathanaël Mbuku’s assist.
Elia doubled the lead in the 93rd minute, securing all three points for the Leopards, who now sit at the top of the group with 12 points, having won all four of their matches.
The victory means the Leopards have secured their place at the tournament in Morocco as they are guaranteed one of the two slots from the group.
Tanzania remains second with four points but faces a tough challenge to qualify with Guinea and Ethiopia trailing closely behind.
Uganda edged South Sudan 2-1 in Group K, with an own goal from Alfred Leku proving decisive.
Denis Omedi gave the Cranes an early lead in the 15th minute, only for Yohanna Juma to equalize for South Sudan in the 21st minute with a stunning strike.
Uganda capitalized on a defensive mix-up in the 66th minute, with Leku’s own goal giving the Cranes their third win of the campaign.
Uganda now tops the group with 10 points, while South Sudan remains bottom with 0 points from four games.
Ghana frustrated after Sudan defeat
Sudan ended their latest 2025 AFCON qualifying assignment on a positive note following an efficient 2-0 victory against Ghana in Group F at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benina.
The Black Stars dominated the opening stages of the match while Sudan was starved of the ball during the first 10 minutes.
Mohammed Kudus came close to opening the scoring on a couple of occasions during this period as Ghana pressed on.
Then, against the run of play, Sudan took the lead soon after the hour-mark after making way into the Ghana box, as Ahmed Al Tash carved out a right-footed shot on the edge of the six-yard area.
The Falcons of Jediane, doubled their advantage in the 65th minute of the match as Mohamed Abdelrahman joined Al Tash on the scoresheet after gathering steam from their opener.
In response to conceding two goals in rapid fashion, Ghana took the direct route to goal but failed at the final hurdle in doing so.
Bafana Bafana held in Brazzaville
South Africa was held to a 1-1 draw by hosts Congo in a 2025 AFCON qualifier played at the Alphonse Massemba-Debat Stadium in Brazzaville.
The result – which featured goals from Elias Mokwana and Mons Bassouamina – takes Bafana Bafana closer to securing qualification for the continental finals in Morocco next year.
South Africa is second in Group K behind Uganda and enjoys a four-point lead over third-placed Congo. A win in either of their remaining two qualifiers in November will be enough to guarantee a ticket to the AFCON.
South Africa carved out the first scoring chance of the match in the 12th minute, with Elias Mokwana doing great work down the right flank to tee up Themba Zwane, who saw his goal-bound shot brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Trey Vimalin.
Mokwana had a great chance of his own on 25 minutes, but his low shot from the right of the penalty area skipped wide of the target, and on the half hour mark Rushwin Dortley’s header from a corner kick was cleared off the goal line by Lois Fauriel.
Bafana Bafana finally broke through on 33 minutes when Mokwana burst past a defender, saw an initial effort saved by Vimalin, but was able to bundle home the rebound to make it 1-0 in favour of the visitors.
SA suffered an injury blow shortly thereafter, with Zwane stretchered off and replaced by Patrick Maswanganyi in the 40th minute.
The teams will return to Group K action for their final two fixtures in November 2024.
Algeria secures Morocco ticket
Algeria secured their place with a narrow 1-0 win over Togo, ensuring their fourth consecutive victory in Group E of the qualifiers.
The result puts the Desert Foxes on 12 points with two games to spare, confirming their qualification for the tournament in Morocco.
A first-half strike from Said Benrahma was enough to seal the win for Algeria, who displayed a disciplined defensive performance to hold off a resilient Togo side.
The victory guarantees Algeria’s seventh straight TotalEnergies CAF AFCON appearance and their 21st overall, as they aim to lift their third continental title.
Only Equatorial Guinea can mathematically challenge Algeria’s top spot in the group, which means the Desert Foxes will be guaranteed one of the two slots from the group.
