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Nigeria Secures AFCON 2025 Qualification As Ghana Keeps Hope Alive
Three-time continental champions Nigeria were among four sides to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) without kicking a ball on Thursday.
Gabon, South Africa, and Uganda have secured their spots in Morocco, thanks to favorable results in their respective groups.
Ten-man Tunisia netted a 93rd-minute winner to triumph 3-2 away against Madagascar and book their place at the finals for a record-extending 17th time.
Libya’s 1-0 victory in Rwanda ensures that Nigeria will finish in the top two of Group D. This outcome also means that if Benin wins their upcoming match against Nigeria, they will join the Super Eagles at the tournament.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s hopes of qualification are still alive after Sudan suffered a damaging 4-0 defeat away against Niger, who revived their campaign.
The Sudanese had needed just a point to progress from Group F.
Four-time AFCON champions Ghana need to defeat already-qualified Angola in Luanda on Friday to keep their hopes alive for a spot in the 2025 finals.
CAR, Congo, and Madagascar eliminated
Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast both qualified for next year’s tournament on Wednesday despite not playing and that theme continued on Thursday.
The Central African Republic needed an away victory against Lesotho to put pressure on Gabon in Group B, but a 1-0 loss in Bloemfontein means their wait for a Nations Cup debut will extend for at least another two years.
Congo-Brazzaville also needed three points from their trip to South Sudan in Group K but finished with 10 men as they lost 3-2 in Juba.
That result handed qualification to group leaders Uganda, who will be back at the finals for the first time since 2019, and South Africa.
Ali Abdi emerged as the hero for Tunisia in their match against Madagascar in Group A, scoring just four minutes after Wajdi Kechrida received a red card.
The Malagasy had twice fought back from a goal down and were eliminated after being denied a point in the closing stages.
Elsewhere Libya kept their faint chances alive in Group D as Fahd Saad Mohamed struck a late winner against Rwanda in Malawi.
There are 10 matches scheduled on Friday when Botswana, Comoros, Mali, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe all have a chance to qualify.
Afcon 2025 qualified team
Morocco (hosts), Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda
