Comoros leapfrogged Tunisia to finish at the summit of Group A in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Madagascar.

Tunisia, meanwhile, suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Gambia in Tunis, failing to maintain their top position.

At the Grand Stade Al-Hoceima, Comoros delivered when it mattered most, defeating Madagascar courtesy of a Yacine Bourhane strike early in the second half.

The hosts showcased their defensive resilience, nullifying Madagascar’s attack and preserving their slender lead.

Despite dominating possession, Comoros found it challenging to break down Madagascar’s compact defensive setup in the first half.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 47th minute when Bourhane capitalized on a corner delivery to tap home from close range.

The win cemented Comoros’ unbeaten record in the group and secured their position at the top with 12 points from six games.

Madagascar, on the other hand, ended their campaign at the bottom of the group, managing just two points.

Their inability to capitalize on goal-scoring opportunities and poor defensive performances have left much to be desired.

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

It was a disaster that waited to happen. The Super Eagles were rendered ordinary, losing 2-1 on home soil to Rwanda. And it flashed like a horror movie as an overhyped side, breaming with stars from the top leagues of Europe, was turned into a laborious outfit.

Yes, they have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations, yet they lost their dignity. On the green field, they failed to win convincingly any of their last four matches – a goalless draw with Rwanda in Kigali and a laborious 1-0 defeat of Libya in Uyo were followed by a face-saving 1-1 draw with Benin Republic and a disgraceful 2-1 home loss to Rwanda.

It was Nigeria’s first loss to Rwanda since 2005 and happening on home soil. The build-up to those matches did not suggest that the Super Eagles had any clear intention of serious assignments ahead.

The social media space was dominated by clips and interviews concerning social issues as content providers had field days at Super Eagles camps.
The camp has always been loose, hence the porosity that impaired concentration and never suggested the magnitude of assignments at hand.

This is unimaginable in a Clemens Westerhof-managed squad. Today, a loose camp for all comers is the order of the day. The results justify the happenings.

Scavenging just a point out of available six in encounters with Rwanda does not suggest that the Super Eagles have the ability to win their remaining six matches in the World Cup qualifying series.

Two of the matches will again be against their nemesis, Rwanda. The Rwandans, leading Group C where Nigeria languishes in the fifth position out of six teams, have shown that they will be ready to inflict more pain on the Super Eagles.

After a lackadaisical approach to the Monday evening encounter with Rwanda, substitute, Samuel Chukwueze added sparks when he waltzed past a sea of Rwandan legs to fire home a goal in the 59th minute.

That ended the story. The Rwandans fought back and canceled the goal within a space of three minutes, scoring in the 72nd and 75th minutes.

Huge doubts now return on the possibility of turning fortunes around in the World Cup qualifiers.

Malawi delivered a stunning performance in their final Group L match of the  Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifiers, defeating Burkina Faso 3-0 at the Bingu National Stadium on Monday. 

Despite the result, the group standings remain unchanged as Senegal and Burkina Faso advance to Morocco.

Coming into the match, the Flames had endured a torrid run, failing to win any of their last 10 TotalEnergies CAF AFCON qualifiers.

However, they stunned their opponents with a commanding display. Gabadinho Mhango broke the deadlock in the 28th minute with a sensational long-range strike, giving Malawi a 1-0 lead at halftime.

The second half saw Richard Mbulu double the Flames’ advantage in the 57th minute with a perfectly placed header.

Lloyd Aaron sealed the emphatic victory in the 62nd minute, converting from close range after a slick team move.

The win marked a morale-boosting end to their otherwise disappointing campaign, though they still finish bottom of the group due to an inferior goal difference compared to Burundi.

The Stallions, who had already secured qualification, struggled to find their rhythm. Despite several attempts, including a late header by Issoufou Dayo, the Stallions could not capitalize on their chances.

Key players like Steeve Yago and Cédric Badolo were unable to inspire the team, which looked uncharacteristically disjointed.

The loss means Burkina Faso finish the group stage with 10 points, firmly in second place behind Senegal.

Their impressive early campaign ensured they clinched qualification prior to this fixture, but this defeat exposed gaps they’ll need to address before the tournament in Morocco.

Group leaders Senegal, unbeaten in the qualifiers, will look to maintain their perfect record when they face Burundi in the final group game on Tuesday.

With 13 points already, the Lions of Teranga have been dominant, scoring eight goals and conceding just one.

Final Group L Standings:

1. Senegal – 13 points (4 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses)
2. Burkina Faso – 10 points (3 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses)
3. Burundi – 4 points (1 win, 1 draw, 3 losses)
4. Malawi – 4 points (1 win, 1 draw, 4 losses)