AFCON
South Sudan edge Congo in five-goal thriller, Uganda and South Africa qualify
South Sudan overcame Congo in a five-goal spectacle in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Thursday, helping Uganda and South Africa to qualify for the tournament to be played in Morocco next year.
In an action-packed game at Juba National Stadium, South Sudan edged Congo 3-2 in Group K to secure their first points of the qualifying campaign.
The home side showed resilience, overturning a 2-1 deficit to secure a crucial victory and spark massive jubilation among the home fans.
The Group K result means, Uganda leads the group with 10 points, followed by South Africa with eight. South Sudan’s victory brings them to three points, just behind Congo on four points.
With just one match remaining, third-placed Congo cannot overtake Uganda and South Africa paving the way for the top two countries to qualify for the 2025 TotalEnergies AFCON in Morocco.
It was Congo that showed the determination to win the match and opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Christopher Ibayi headed home from close range.
South Sudan quickly responded through Ebon Malish in the 31st minute, leveling the game with a powerful header.
However, Congo regained their lead just four minutes later, as Ibayi scored his second with a well-taken shot from a tight angle.
South Sudan fought back fiercely, and Malish equalized once again in the 45+2′ minute, heading in a cross from William Gama.
With momentum on their side, South Sudan continued to press in the second half. The turning point came in the 78th minute, as Bryan Passi of Congo received a red card, reducing the visitors to 10 men.
In the 84th minute, substitute Data Elly scored the winning goal with a clinical finish, securing South Sudan’s first win of the campaign.
This result boosts their standings, as they now sit one point behind Congo in Group K.
The matchday 4 of Libya and Nigeria was akin to a war as the Super Eagles were literally held hostage for 20 hours at an abandoned airport. The treatment meted to the Super Eagles made it impossible for the match to go on.
The Libyan actions generated global outrage. The Confederation of Africa (CAF) consequently awarded the match to Nigeria.
Paradoxically, the award and Libya’s win over Rwanda have taken a lot of burden off the Super Eagles as they pick qualification tickets, even with two matches to spare. The worst-case scenario for them is to place second on the Group D log.
Libya snatched a narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali, thanks to a late strike by Fahd Saad Mohamed.
The game was closely contested, with both sides creating chances but struggling to find the back of the net.
Rwanda’s Innocent Nshuti came close on several occasions, but Libyan goalkeeper Bader Hassan stood firm.
The win pushed Libya up to four points, although they remain at the bottom of Group D, while Rwanda stays in third with five points
Nigeria Super Eagles have qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations even before the fifth of their six-match schedule. This is sequel to the 1-0 defeat of Rwanda by Libya. With the result, neither Libya, sill last placed and the third placed Rwada can overtake Nigeria’s 10-point haul even if they win their last matches.
Libya will host Benin Republic on Monday. If Libya wins, the team will get to seven points. If Rwanda beat Nigeria in Uyo on Monday, Rwanda’s maximum will be eight.
Only Benin Republic can overtake the Super Eagles if they win this Thursday night and also win against Libya on Monday to take their total to 12.
With two teams qualifying, Nigeria can not finish below the second position even if they lose their next two matches.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Before meeting Rwanda last June in Abidjan in their matchday 3 duels of the World Cup qualifying series, the Benin Republic under Gernot Rohr had been having a winless run.
Rohr was employed on 28 February 2023 and had nine winless matches until they were compelled to move their home ground to Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
In their first match at the stadium on 6 June this year, they won their first-ever match under Rohr when they defeated Rwanda 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier.
They followed up four days later when they beat Nigeria 2-1. It was their first-ever victory over Nigeria since their 10-1 loss in Lagos on 29 November 1959.
Since June this year, they have won all their matches in Abidjan. Will the winning streak continue?
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