Sudan and Benin have successfully secured their positions at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following their impressive performances in the qualifiers. Despite facing challenges such as playing all their matches abroad due to the ongoing civil war, Sudan managed to clinch a spot by drawing 0-0 with Angola and finishing second in Group F. Their eight-point tally was enough to edge out Niger, who caused an upset by defeating Ghana 2-1 in Accra.
In Group D, Benin advanced to the AFCON on head-to-head advantage after a goalless draw with Libya in Tripoli. On the other hand, Rwanda faced heartbreak despite a stunning 2-1 victory over Nigeria. Rwanda’s goals from Ange Mutsinzi and Innocent Nshuti were not enough to secure them a spot as they finished level on points with Benin but lost out on goal difference. Nigeria, who had already qualified, fielded a rotated squad against Rwanda, with substitute Samuel Chukwueze managing to score a goal for the Super Eagles.
The biggest shock of the tournament came as four-time champions Ghana failed to qualify, following Niger’s dramatic late winner in Accra. Meanwhile, Morocco maintained their perfect qualifying record by thrashing Lesotho 7-0, with Brahim Diaz scoring a hat-trick. Gambia also caused an upset by defeating Tunisia 1-0 in Rades, although both teams had already secured qualification.
With only three spots left for AFCON 2025, the final qualifiers will be determined on Tuesday through matchups in Groups C, H, and I. The competition is heating up as teams battle it out for a chance to compete in one of Africa’s most prestigious football tournaments. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as the road to AFCON 2025 reaches its climax.
