Nigeria head five Afcon 2025 qualifiers as Ghana given hope

As the penultimate round of Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers took place on Thursday, Nigeria and four other teams secured their spots for the 2025 tournament. The qualifying journey continued to unfold with some dramatic results, while Ghana’s hopes for qualification remained alive, albeit on a tightrope.

Nigeria, three-time Afcon champions, were among the top five teams to confirm their place in the finals, alongside Gabon, South Africa, Uganda, and Tunisia. Tunisia, despite being reduced to 10 men, secured a dramatic 3-2 win over Madagascar in the final moments of their game, ensuring their record-extending 17th consecutive Afcon appearance. The win was a testament to Tunisia’s resilience as they netted a 93rd-minute winner in an intense match.

Meanwhile, Gabon, South Africa, and Uganda advanced without having to play on Thursday. Their qualification came as results in other groups favored them. The day’s fixtures saw Libya’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda, which meant Nigeria were guaranteed a top-two finish in Group D, regardless of their upcoming match against Benin. This ensured that the Super Eagles would qualify for the tournament in Morocco, as only the top two teams from each group progress.

In their game, Nigeria managed a 1-1 draw against Benin, with striker Victor Osimhen scoring the equalizer. Although the result meant that Benin, Rwanda, and Libya all still had chances to qualify, Nigeria’s place in the 2025 Afcon finals was secured. This draw also kept the race in Group D wide open as the final round of matches approaches.

Ghana’s Qualification Hopes Hang by a Thread

Ghana, four-time Afcon winners, still have a shot at qualifying, but their path to Morocco now hinges on a must-win match against Angola. Ghana was buoyed by Sudan’s 4-0 defeat to Niger, which handed the latter a vital win and revived their qualification hopes. Sudan had needed just a point from their match to secure qualification, but the heavy loss complicated Ghana’s prospects in Group F.

To stay in contention for one of the qualification spots, Ghana must defeat Angola in Luanda on Friday. The match will be crucial for the Black Stars, who cannot afford any slip-ups if they are to make it to the finals for the first time since 2017.

Eliminations and Mixed Fortunes for Other Teams

Several teams were eliminated from the 2025 Afcon race following Thursday’s results. The Central African Republic (CAR), who needed a win against Lesotho to remain in the hunt for qualification, were defeated 1-0 in Bloemfontein. This loss means CAR will have to wait for at least another two years to make their Afcon debut. Similarly, Congo-Brazzaville’s hopes were dashed after a 3-2 loss to South Sudan in Group K, a result that sealed Uganda’s qualification. The Ugandans will return to the Afcon finals for the first time since 2019.

Madagascar’s hopes were also dashed by Tunisia’s last-minute winner. Despite battling back twice in the match, the Malagasy were eliminated as Tunisia’s Ali Abdi scored the decisive goal in the 93rd minute after a red card to Wajdi Kechrida. Madagascar’s elimination followed a campaign full of ups and downs, with the team unable to secure the vital point needed to stay in contention.

Other Results and Upcoming Matches

In other qualifying action, Libya kept their faint hopes of progression alive with a 1-0 win over Rwanda in Malawi. The victory kept their chances of advancing to the finals intact, although they will need to beat Benin in the final group match to secure second place.

Elsewhere, the group stages of the qualifiers are still unfolding, with several teams vying for the remaining spots in the 2025 tournament. There are 10 matches scheduled for Friday, with teams like Botswana, Comoros, Mali, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe all having the chance to secure their qualification. These final fixtures will determine the last few teams to make it to the Afcon finals next year.

Confirmed Afcon 2025 Qualifiers

As of Thursday, the following teams have secured their spots in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations: hosts Morocco, Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda.

Thursday’s Key Results:

• Madagascar 2-3 Tunisia (Group A)
• Lesotho 1-0 Central African Republic (Group B)
• Rwanda 0-1 Libya (Group D)
• Benin 1-1 Nigeria (Group D)
• Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Algeria (Group E)
• Niger 4-0 Sudan (Group F)
• South Sudan 3-2 Congo-Brazzaville (Group K)
• Burundi 0-0 Malawi (Group L)
• Burkina Faso 0-1 Senegal (Group L)

With just a few matches left to play, the road to the 2025 Afcon finals in Morocco is nearly complete, with only a few spots remaining to be filled. Fans across Africa are eagerly awaiting the final outcomes of the remaining qualification battles.