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AFCON 2025 qualifiers

Focus turns to TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers

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The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifiers will officially kick-off on Wednesday with several matches on card.

Four teams from the CECAFA Zone will be in action with the Amavubi of Rwanda facing hosts Libya at the Tripoli Stadium in a Group D match, while Sudan host Niger in a Group F tie at the newly renovated Juba Stadium in South Sudan.

Torsten Frank Spitter, the Rwanda coach has made it clear that they need to start well in the qualifiers. “We are fully prepared for the match. We believe in our chances and trust our players. We seek to achieve victory despite the difficulty of the task, in order to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations,” added Spitter.

Taifa Stars of Tanzania, the only team to play at the last AFCON held in Ivory Coast will also play host to Ethiopia in a Group H encounter at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The match promises to be a tough contest since the two teams know each other well enough.

On Thursday all eyes in the CECAFA Zone will focus on the Group K match between Congo Brazzaville and South Sudan to be played at the Stade Alphonse Massemba-Debat in Brazzaville, the same day Burundi play away against Malawi in a Group K match at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

Uganda Cranes, the highly ranked team by FIFA in the Zone will be in action away to South Africa in Group K match at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on September 6th, the same day Kenya host Zimbabwe in a Group J match to be played at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole in Kampala, Uganda.

Paul Put, Uganda’s coach will be hoping to see his team make a good start in the campaign before they host Congo Brazzaville in a few days in Kampala.   

A total of 48 nations drawn in 12 groups of 4 will kick start the qualifiers, with the top two finishers in the eleven (11) groups that do not involve tournament hosts Morocco, set to gain qualification to the competition.

Fixture for CECAFA teams

September 4

Libya Vs Rwanda

Sudan Vs Niger

Tanzania Vs Ethiopia

September 5

Congo Brazzaville Vs South Sudan

Malawi Vs Burundi

September 6

Kenya Vs Zimbabwe

South Africa Vs Uganda

AFCON 2025 qualifiers

Tanzania complete CECAFA hat-trick qualification for AFCON 2025

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The Taifa Stars of Tanzania have qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

Tanzania sealed their place after defeating Guinea 1-0 in a crucial Group H match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.

Tiafa Stars qualification makes it a hat-trick of teams that have qualified form the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Zone (Tanzania, Sudan and Uganda).

The two teams went into the match with Guinea only needing a draw or win, while the Taifa Stars needed nothing less than victory to qualify for their straight consecutive AFCON 2022 after playing in the last one hosted by Ivory Coast.

After a tight contest that ended goalless in-front of thousands of home fans, Taifa Stars returned and scored through Simon Nsuva after 61 minutes with a well timed header. Guinea who shocked table leaders DR Congo 1-0 a few days ago tried to fight back to level maters, but Taifa Stars defended in numbers.

It was all celebration after the final whistle as Tanzanian celebrated in the Stadium through to the city centres. The win saw Tanzania qualify as second best team with 10 points behind DR Congo who face Ethiopia in the last Group H match to be played later at night today.

Hemed Suleiman Morocco, Tanzania’s head coach was full of joy after the match. ”I am proud of leading the national team to the AFCON,” said a happy coach.

The teams that have so far qualified for the AFCON 2025 include; Tunisia, Comoros, Morocco (hosts), Gabon, Egypt, Nigeria, Benin, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Sudan, Zambia, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Mali, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Uganda and Tanzania.

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AFCON 2025 qualifiers

Sudan qualify for TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2025

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Sudan have joined Uganda as the two teams from the CECAFA Zone that have so far qualified for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

The Falcons of Jediane qualified for the tournament after playing out to a barren draw against table leaders Angola in a Group F match played at the Benina Martyrs Stadium, Benghazi in Libya on Monday evening.

The draw meant that Sudan finished second with 8 points, while Angola topped with 14 points. Niger who shocked hosts Ghana 2-1 finished third with 7 points, and the Black Stars of Ghana bottom with only 3 points.

“I am very happy to lead Sudan to the AFCON 2025. It has been a lot of hard work despite several challenges because of the political environment in Sudan,” said a happy Sudan coach James Kwesi Appiah.

In another match involving a team from the CECAFA Zone, Rwanda completed the qualifiers on a high with a 2-1 Group D away win against Nigeria in a match played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

After a goalless first half, Sameul Chukwueze gave the hosts the lead after 59 minutes, but Ange Mutsinzi and Innocent Nshuti netted for the Amabuvi Stars to make sure they collected maximum points away from home. Nigeria finished top of the Group with 11 points, while Benin who settled for a 0-0 draw away in Libya qualified after finishing second with 8 points, Rwanda also collected 8 points, but had a poor goal difference compared to Benin.

Action continues on Tuesday with six teams from the CECAFA Zone in action with the highlight being the Group H match between Tanzania and Guinea to be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The Taifa Stars will need an outright win to qualify for AFCON 2025.

The teams that have so far qualified for the AFCON 2025 include; Tunisia, Comoros, Morocco (hosts), Gabon, Egypt, Nigeria, Benin, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Sudan, Zambia, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Mali, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Uganda.

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AFCON 2025 qualifiers

Kenya face Zimbabwe in crucial AFCON 2025 qualifying tie

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The Harambee Stars of Kenya will be all out to try and get a win against Zimbabwe in a Group J match of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifying match.

Zimbabwe who are second on the log with 8 points will host the match at the New Peter Moraba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa.

Kenya who are third on the table with 4 points will need only a win to revive their hopes of qualification. Cameroon who drew goalless against bottom placed Namibia few days ago have already sealed qualification with 11 points and one game to be played.

Engin Firat, the Kenya head coach has maintained that they will have to be very cautious facing Zimbabwe. “This is a match which means lot to us and we must handle it with care,” added Firat.

Uganda Cranes who already qualified for the AFCON 2025 on Thursday after South Sudan defeated Congo Brazzaville will also host South Sudan in a Group K match at the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole on Friday.

Uganda lead the Group with 10 points, while Bafana Bafana are second with 8 points. Congo Brazzaville are third on the log with 4 points, while South Sudan have collected 3 points

Meanwhile, in matches played on Thursday involving teams from the CECAFA Zone South Sudan defeated Congo Brazzaville 3-2, while Niger shocked Sudan 4-0 in a Group F match. Burundi also settled for a goalless draw against Malawi, while Rwanda suffered a 1-0 defeat to Libya in a Group D match played in Kigali.

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AFCON 2025 qualifiers

Uganda qualify for AFCON 2025 after South Sudan beat Congo Brazzaville

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Uganda Cranes are the first team in the CECAFA Zone to qualify for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

Coach Paul Put’s team benefited from neighbours South Sudan who defeated 10-man Congo Brazzaville 3-2 in a Group K match played earlier in Juba on Thursday.

The wins for South Sudan means Uganda and South Africa who face-off on Friday have both qualified before playing their remaining two matches.

Uganda top Group K with 10 points, while South Africa is second with 10 points. The two automatically qualify because even with wins in their last matches South Sudan and Congo Brazzaville cannot pick the number of points Uganda and South Africa have already collected.

Against Congo Brazzaville the Bright Star of South Sudan had Ebon Ezibon score a first half brace, while Elly Data netted in the second half to make sure the home side collected maximum points after Christopher Ibayi had scored a brace for his team. The visitors had Bryan Passi sent-off at the Juba National Stadium.

The Uganda Cranes started their campaign with a 2-2 away draw against South Africa, and beat Congo Brazzaville 2-0 in Kampala. The Cranes again saw off South Sudan 1-0 in Kampala, and also collected a hard fought 2-1 away win against the same team in Juba.

Uganda and South Africa have now joined other teams that have qualified for AFCON 2025 that include; Morocco, Gabon, Egypt, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Ivory Coast, DR Congo and Burkina Faso.

Uganda returned to the AFCON after last appearing in 2019 when it was held in Egypt. Under the guidance of coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, Uganda Cranes broke their 39-year AFCON jinx when they qualified for the 2017 AFCON that took place in Gabon.

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