AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: Black Stars Miss Out on Qualification After 20 years, Comoros, Zimbabwe Secure Spots
Ghana’s aspirations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations came crashing down in a dramatic encounter on Friday night, as a last-minute equalizer from Angola denied the Black Stars a much-needed victory, finishing the match 1-1 in Luanda.
The evening started optimistically for Ghana, who took an early lead in the 18th minute thanks to a spectacular free-kick from Jordan Ayew. The strike had the potential to ignite their campaign, but the Black Stars could not maintain their advantage.
The turning point came in the 64th minute when Angola’s Zine powered home a header, leaving Ghana reeling. The equalizer proved devastating; it meant that Ghana, four-time AFCON champions, would miss the tournament for the first time in two decades, their last absence dating back to the 2004 edition in Tunisia.
This disappointing result leaves Ghana at the bottom of Group F with a mere three points from five matches, failing to secure a single victory throughout their qualification campaign. In stark contrast, Angola sits atop the group with 13 points, having already secured their spot in Morocco.
The disappointment felt by Ghanaian fans is palpable, given the nation’s storied history in African football. The Black Stars have long been considered one of the continent’s powerhouses, making this failure even more stinging.
In other group news, Comoros celebrated a historic qualification for the AFCON for the second time, pulling off a thrilling 2-1 victory over Gambia. After Gambia’s Alassana Jatta opened the scoring in the 18th minute, Comoros responded brilliantly. Rafiki Said leveled the score just before halftime, and substitute Myziane Maolida clinched the win with a header in the 90th minute, igniting euphoric celebrations among Comoros supporters.
Morocco, already qualified as hosts, continued their impressive form with a resounding 5-1 victory against Gabon. Despite falling behind to an early goal from Denis Bouanga, the Atlas Lions showcased their attacking prowess, scoring five unanswered goals, including two from Brahim Diaz.
In Group G, Zambia secured their place in the tournament with a narrow 1-0 win over defending champions Côte d’Ivoire. A stunning long-range strike from Kennedy Musonda in the 43rd minute proved decisive, while Zambia’s defense held firm against a second-half resurgence from the Ivorians.
Mali also booked their spot in the AFCON with a 1-0 victory over Mozambique, thanks to a goal from Kamory Doumbia in the 19th minute. Despite pressure from Mozambique in the second half, Mali’s defense, led by goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, stood strong.
In a tightly contested Group I match, Eswatini and Guinea-Bissau played to a 1-1 draw. Philani Mkhonto gave Eswatini a late lead, but Carlos Mané equalized just minutes later, leaving both teams’ qualification hopes hanging in the balance.
Zimbabwe confirmed their place in the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Kenya, securing the necessary points to advance despite a spirited fightback from the Kenyans.
Finally, Egypt maintained their dominance in Group C, securing a 1-1 draw against Cape Verde. Taher Mohamed’s first-half goal was canceled out by a penalty from Ryan Mendes, but Egypt’s position at the top of the group remains intact as they gear up for the tournament.
