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)

Riyad Mahrez was back among the goals for Algeria on Sunday as they completed their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 5-1 home thrashing of Liberia on Sunday.

Mahrez had not scored for his country in his previous seven outings including their calamitous early exit from the last Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast at the start of the year.

But he contributed the second goal as Algeria fought back after conceding early to register an easy win and finish their Group E campaign with five wins and a draw for a runaway 16-point haul at the top of the standings.

They ended eight points ahead of Equatorial Guinea, who lost 3-0 to Togo at the same time but still qualify in second place.

The qualifiers for the 2025 finals, which Morocco is hosting from Dec. 21, 2025 to Jan. 18, 2026, will be completed on Monday and Tuesday.

There are five places up for grabs in the 24-team field with 19 countries already qualified for the tournament.

-Reuters

The final round of Group E matches in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifiers brought contrasting fortunes as Algeria dismantled Liberia 5-1 to end their campaign unbeaten, while Togo claimed a morale-boosting 3-0 win over Equatorial Guinea in Lomé on Sunday.

Algeria’s Dominance

Already assured of first place in Group E, Algeria showed no signs of complacency at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium.

The Fennecs, unbeaten in their last 19 AFCON qualifiers, extended their streak with a commanding display that further underscored their dominance.

Liberia stunned the home crowd early with a sixth-minute goal from Sampson Dweh, but Algeria responded swiftly.

Aïssa Mandi equalized in the 20th minute before Riyad Mahrez gave the hosts the lead with a deft header in the 29th minute.

The second half belonged entirely to Algeria, as Baghdad Bounedjah, Amine Gouiri, and Mohammed Amoura all found the net to complete the rout.

Gouiri’s goal—a sublime finish to the bottom left corner—stood out as one of the match’s highlights.

Algeria finished the group stage with 16 points, scoring 16 goals and conceding just two.

Their unbeaten run and defensive solidity further cement their status as one of the favorites heading into Morocco 2025.

Togo Salvages Pride

In Lomé, Togo ended their qualifying campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over second-placed Equatorial Guinea.

Despite being eliminated from the tournament, the Sparrowhawks showed resilience, snapping a three-game losing streak in AFCON qualifiers.

Yaw Annor opened the scoring in the 14th minute, while Kevin Denkey doubled the lead early in the second half with a stunning long-range strike.

Annor capped off a brilliant individual performance with his second goal in the 87th minute.

For Equatorial Guinea, the defeat had no bearing on their qualification for AFCON 2025, as they had already secured their spot.

However, the loss ended their 10-game unbeaten run in qualifiers, exposing vulnerabilities that may require attention ahead of the tournament.

Group E Final Standings

• 1st: Algeria – 16 points (5 wins, 1 draw)
• 2nd: Equatorial Guinea – 8 points (2 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses)
• 3rd: Togo – 5 points (1 win, 2 draws, 3 losses)
• 4th: Liberia – 4 points (1 win, 1 draw, 4 losses)