Five things we learned from the AFCON qualifying matches

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Sep 11, 2024. 11:54

With the latest set of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures done and dusted, here’s a look at five notable learning points observed in the last couple of weeks.

Big results

No qualifying campaign is ever complete without a couple of shock results along the way. Ghana headed into their initial 2025 AFCON qualifier against Angola as favourites but eventually suffered a 1-0 loss on home soil last week Thursday. Similarly, Senegal were overwhelming favourites in their tie against Burkina Faso last week Friday, however, a late effort by Ousseni Bouda saw the Stallions rescue a point in dramatic fashion.

Infrastructure issues

Madagascar, Gambia, Niger, Ethiopia and Burundi had fixtures moved to neutral venues as a result of not having home grounds of an international-standard. While the issue of quality infrastructure for certain countries continues to be an issue on the African continent, many nations have suffered at not having home-ground advantages going into crucial qualifying matches.

Officiating issues

Refereeing decisions were once again a major topic of discussion among fans and pundits in the last couple of weeks, as seen after Nigeria and Rwanda’s 0-0 draw at the Amahoro Stadium on Tuesday night. Ademola Lookman had a goal disallowed after the referee spotted a foul made by Junior Ajayi inside the area, a decision that angered the Super Eagles players. While the incident was swiftly addressed on the pitch, supporters took to their social media handles in suggesting that a Video Assistant Referee could have provided much needed clarity on the foul.

Overall planning positives

Despite the officiating topics and also, the use of neutral venues for some nations, the latest round of AFCON qualifiers was more than a success from an organizing point of view. Games were scheduled smoothly, while important information regarding teams and coaches were readily available to the public.

North Africa reigns supreme

While a number of East and West African nations struggled during the latest round of qualifiers, the likes of Morocco, Algeria and Egypt have all impressed in the last couple of days. Moroccan football has been in a good space in the last couple of years and are expected to excel at next year’s showpiece.