Tanzania, Botswana and Mozambique secure final AFCON berths

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Nov 19, 2024. 23:10

Tanzania, Botswana and Mozambique have secured the final berths at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after the qualification phase was brought to a close with 13 matches across the continent on Tuesday 19 November.

Tanzania became qualifier number 22 thanks to their 1-0 win over Guinea in Dar es Salaam in an afternoon kick-off in Group H.

Simon Msuva’s goal just past the hour mark saw the Taifa Stars leapfrog the Syli National on the log standings and join group winners DR Congo (who lost 2-1 to Ethiopia in an early evening match in Kinshasa) in reaching the AFCON finals.

It will be Tanzania’s fourth appearance at the tournament and a third in the space of four editions, starting from 2019.

Botswana were the 23rd qualifiers after they claimed a 1-1 draw away to Egypt in Cairo, ensuring they finished second behind the Pharaohs in Group C – thus rendering Mauritania’s concurrent 1-0 win over 10-man Cape Verde in Nouakchott merely academic.

The Zebras claimed an early lead at the June 30 Stadium thanks to Omaatla Kebatho, and though the North Africans hit back quickly via Mahmoud Trezeguet, no further goals were netted, leaving the Southern Africans to celebrate just their second qualification for the Nations Cup finals.

The 24th and final nation to qualify were Mozambique, who only needed to avoid defeat away to Guinea-Bissau in order to join Group I winners Mali (who thumped Eswatini 6-0 in a concurrent match in Bamako) in qualification, but they went one better by beating the Djurtus 2-1 at Estadio 24 de Setembro.

The Mambas’ goals were scored by Bruno Langa and Stanley Ratifo (sandwiching an equaliser from Beto), as they qualified for the AFCON for the sixth time overall and second tournament in succession.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Group J was completed by a 2-1 win for Cameroon over Zimbabwe and a 0-0 draw between Kenya and Namibia.

Group K saw South Africa finish unbeaten at the top of the log with a 3-0 win over South Sudan in Cape Town, while Uganda were breathing down their necks in second spot thanks to a 1-0 triumph away to Congo.

In Group G, Zambia held onto top spot ahead of reigning AFCON champions Ivory Coast thanks to a 2-0 away win over Sierra Leone, despite a comprehensive 4-0 triumph for the Elephants at home to Chad.

The very last qualifier was played in the evening in Dakar, where Group L winners Senegal defeated already-eliminated Burundi 2-0 courtesy of two goals from Habib Diarra.

The final list of 24 teams for the 2025 AFCON (in chronological order of qualification): Morocco (hosts), Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Algeria, DR Congo, Senegal, Egypt, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Uganda, South Africa, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mali, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Sudan, Benin, Tanzania, Botswana and Mozambique.

The 2025 AFCON will be held from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 across six venues in Morocco.

AFCONQ results, Tuesday 19 November

Tanzania 1-0 Guinea

Kenya 0-0 Namibia

Cameroon 2-1 Zimbabwe

Mauritania 1-0 Cape Verde

Egypt 1-1 Botswana

Sierra Leone 0-2 Zambia

Ivory Coast 4-0 Chad

DR Congo 1-2 Ethiopia

Guinea-Bissau 1-2 Mozambique

Mali 6-0 Eswatini

Congo 0-1 Uganda

South Africa 3-0 South Sudan

Senegal 2-0 Burundi