AFCON
Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea book Cup of Nations berths without playing
Holders Cote d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea became the latest countries to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals but did not have to kick a ball to do so, as the penultimate round of qualifiers began on Wednesday.
The Ivorians, winners at the last finals which they hosted at the start of the year, are certain of finishing in the top two places in Group G after Sierra Leone were held to a 1-1 draw by Chad in Abidjan.
The Ivorians sit on nine points from four matches, with Zambia second in the group on seven from four. Sierra Leone have five points with one game to play and Chad are eliminated.
Chad moved the clash to the Ivory Coast because they are one of 18 countries barred from hosting international matches because of the poor state of their stadia.
They went a goal behind to Abu-Diaby Dumbuya’s stunning 29th-minute effort but equalised with a Panenka-style penalty from defender Mahamat Thiam five minutes later.
A 1-0 win for Liberia over Togo in Monrovia in Group E eliminated both countries and guaranteed Equatorial Guinea progress to the tournament in Morocco, which is to be played from Dec. 21, 2025 to Jan. 18, 2026. The top two sides in each of the 12 qualifying groups advance to the finals.
Equatorial Guinea, who were a surprise package at the last finals, sit on seven points from their four matches, while Liberia who have four points from five games and Togo have two
Even if Liberia finish with same points tally as Equatorial Guinea, who host group leaders Algeria on Thursday, they cannot overhaul them in the standings because of the head-to-head record between the two.
Equatorial Guinea beat Liberia home and away last month, but on Wednesday substitute Mohammed Sangare, who came through the ranks at Newcastle United but now plays his club football in Switzerland, tucked away an 83rd-minute penalty to ensure Liberia’s first win of the group.
It was also a maiden victory for caretaker coach Thomas Kojo, drafted in last month after Romanian Mario Marinica was fired.
Earlier on Wednesday, Cameroon hung on for a goalless draw away against Namibia in their Group J clash played in Johannesburg, South Africa
Namibia came close to snatching victory midway through the second half when diminutive forward Prins Tjiueza hit the upright with a header and then slammed the rebound onto the same post as Andre Onana kept a clean sheet for a fourth time in five matches in the qualifiers.
Cameroon had already qualified from Group J while it was the first point of the campaign for the already-eliminated Namibia.
Afterwards, Cameroon coach Marc Brys bemoaned the poor organisation which saw his side arrive less than 24 hours before kick off and have to do without Brentford striker Bryan Mbeumo and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, who did not make it to the game on the time after playing in the Premier League at the weekend.
Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon are joined by Angola, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Morocco and Senegal in the finals.
More places should be decided on Thursday when a further nine qualifiers are played around the continent, with the likes of Nigeria, Sudan and Tunisia looking likely to book their tickets to Morocco.
-Reuters
AFCON
Nigeria may pick Africa Cup of Nations ticket before playing the Benin Republic
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Like Cote d’Ivoire, like Equatorial Guinea, the Super Eagles of Nigeria may pick their Africa Cup of Nations ticket even before their match with the Benin Republic in Abidjan, this Thursday night.
Nigeria will be away to Benin Republic in a duel that will kick off at 8 pm Nigerian time. Before then, the corresponding match of Group D that will pitch Rwanda against visiting Libya will be held at 5 pm Nigerian time in Kigali.
If the match ends in a draw, the two teams will arithmetically out of contention to beat Nigeria’s current 10 points.
A draw will mean Libya has a point haul of two, while that of Rwanda will be six. Even if both win their Match Day 6 matches, they will have 5 and 8 points respectively.
AFCON
Big blow for Benin Republic ahead of clash with Super Eagles
Cheetahs of Benin have suffered a major injury blow as the team hopes for a good result in this Thursday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash with table-toppers, Super Eagles.
Defender Olivier Verdon has been ruled out of the game due to injury. However, team coach Gernot Rohr did not reveal the extent of the injury while announcing the player’s availability.
It is suspected that the player suffers from a torn hamstring. Earlier ruled out was Cédric Hountondji.
This situation reinforces the uncertainties around a weakened Beninese defence.
It also means that the player will not be available for next week’s clash with Libya.
AFCON
Mohammed Sangare’s late penalty gives Liberia narrow victory over Togo
A late penalty from Mo Sangare secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for Liberia over Togo in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Despite having a slim chance for AFCON qualification, the Lone Stars fought for pride and delivered the first win of the campaign for the home fans.
The victory moves the Lone Star to thirds in the group with four points while Togo drop to the bottom with two points.
In a match that saw few clear-cut chances, both teams struggled to break down the other’s defence.
Togo, needing a win to keep their slim qualification hopes alive, applied early pressure but found Liberia’s defense resilient.
Kodjo Laba and Kévin Denkey led Togo’s attacks, but their efforts were consistently thwarted by Liberia’s goalkeeper and defence.
Liberia’s best chance came in the 83rd minute after a handball by Togo’s captain, Djené Dakonam, in the penalty area.
The incident was ruled a penalty, and Sangare stepped up to calmly slot the ball into the bottom left corner, giving Liberia the lead in the final moments of the game.
Togo pushed forward in the closing minutes in search of an equaliser, with Denkey’s powerful shot saved by the Liberian goalkeeper in stoppage time.
Kodjo Laba also missed a late attempt, sending his shot high and wide, adding to the visitors’ frustration.
With this result, Liberia earned their first win of the qualifying campaign, boosting team morale under interim coach Thomas Kojo.
Togo, meanwhile, will play their final group match knowing that they won’t be able to qualify as they are five points adrift of second-placed Equatorial Guinea.
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