Tanzania complete CECAFA hat-trick qualification for AFCON 2025

Sudan have joined Uganda as the two teams from the CECAFA Zone that have so far qualified for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

The Falcons of Jediane qualified for the tournament after playing out to a barren draw against table leaders Angola in a Group F match played at the Benina Martyrs Stadium, Benghazi in Libya on Monday evening.

The draw meant that Sudan finished second with 8 points, while Angola topped with 14 points. Niger who shocked hosts Ghana 2-1 finished third with 7 points, and the Black Stars of Ghana bottom with only 3 points.

“I am very happy to lead Sudan to the AFCON 2025. It has been a lot of hard work despite several challenges because of the political environment in Sudan,” said a happy Sudan coach James Kwesi Appiah.

In another match involving a team from the CECAFA Zone, Rwanda completed the qualifiers on a high with a 2-1 Group D away win against Nigeria in a match played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

After a goalless first half, Sameul Chukwueze gave the hosts the lead after 59 minutes, but Ange Mutsinzi and Innocent Nshuti netted for the Amabuvi Stars to make sure they collected maximum points away from home. Nigeria finished top of the Group with 11 points, while Benin who settled for a 0-0 draw away in Libya qualified after finishing second with 8 points, Rwanda also collected 8 points, but had a poor goal difference compared to Benin.

Action continues on Tuesday with six teams from the CECAFA Zone in action with the highlight being the Group H match between Tanzania and Guinea to be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The Taifa Stars will need an outright win to qualify for AFCON 2025.

The teams that have so far qualified for the AFCON 2025 include; Tunisia, Comoros, Morocco (hosts), Gabon, Egypt, Nigeria, Benin, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Sudan, Zambia, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Mali, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Uganda.

The Harambee Stars of Kenya will be all out to try and get a win against Zimbabwe in a Group J match of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifying match.

Zimbabwe who are second on the log with 8 points will host the match at the New Peter Moraba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa.

Kenya who are third on the table with 4 points will need only a win to revive their hopes of qualification. Cameroon who drew goalless against bottom placed Namibia few days ago have already sealed qualification with 11 points and one game to be played.

Engin Firat, the Kenya head coach has maintained that they will have to be very cautious facing Zimbabwe. “This is a match which means lot to us and we must handle it with care,” added Firat.

Uganda Cranes who already qualified for the AFCON 2025 on Thursday after South Sudan defeated Congo Brazzaville will also host South Sudan in a Group K match at the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole on Friday.

Uganda lead the Group with 10 points, while Bafana Bafana are second with 8 points. Congo Brazzaville are third on the log with 4 points, while South Sudan have collected 3 points

Meanwhile, in matches played on Thursday involving teams from the CECAFA Zone South Sudan defeated Congo Brazzaville 3-2, while Niger shocked Sudan 4-0 in a Group F match. Burundi also settled for a goalless draw against Malawi, while Rwanda suffered a 1-0 defeat to Libya in a Group D match played in Kigali.

Uganda Cranes are the first team in the CECAFA Zone to qualify for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

Coach Paul Put’s team benefited from neighbours South Sudan who defeated 10-man Congo Brazzaville 3-2 in a Group K match played earlier in Juba on Thursday.

The wins for South Sudan means Uganda and South Africa who face-off on Friday have both qualified before playing their remaining two matches.

Uganda top Group K with 10 points, while South Africa is second with 10 points. The two automatically qualify because even with wins in their last matches South Sudan and Congo Brazzaville cannot pick the number of points Uganda and South Africa have already collected.

Against Congo Brazzaville the Bright Star of South Sudan had Ebon Ezibon score a first half brace, while Elly Data netted in the second half to make sure the home side collected maximum points after Christopher Ibayi had scored a brace for his team. The visitors had Bryan Passi sent-off at the Juba National Stadium.

The Uganda Cranes started their campaign with a 2-2 away draw against South Africa, and beat Congo Brazzaville 2-0 in Kampala. The Cranes again saw off South Sudan 1-0 in Kampala, and also collected a hard fought 2-1 away win against the same team in Juba.

Uganda and South Africa have now joined other teams that have qualified for AFCON 2025 that include; Morocco, Gabon, Egypt, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Ivory Coast, DR Congo and Burkina Faso.

Uganda returned to the AFCON after last appearing in 2019 when it was held in Egypt. Under the guidance of coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, Uganda Cranes broke their 39-year AFCON jinx when they qualified for the 2017 AFCON that took place in Gabon.

The Falcons of Jediane, Sudan will be all out to win against Niger on Thursday to seal qualification for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

Sudan who are placed second in Group F with 7 points need to beat bottom placed Niger in a match that will be played at the Stade de Kegue in Lome, Togo.

James Kwesi Appiah, the Sudan head coach has said his team is aware of what this match against Niger means to them and they are more than determined to collect maximum points. “We must go all out and hurt for the goals and also defend well as a unit,” said Appiah.

Sudan improved their chances of qualification last month when they held Ghana to a 1-1 draw in the away match, and later picked a 2-0 win against the same side in a match they hosted at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benina, Libya.

The Sudan team will hope that Ahmed Al Tash and Mohamed Abdelrahman who scored against Ghana last month find their scoring touch again in this important fixture. Victory for Sudan will mean they automatically qualify before event facing table leaders Angola (12 points) in their last Group match.

On Thursday three other teams from the CECAFA Zone Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi will also be in action.

Rwanda who are placed third in Group D will need to beat bottom placed Libya to revive their hopes of qualification. The match will take place at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.

 Torsten Spittler Frank, the Amavubi head coach has called on his players to go all out and fight to pick three points. The second Group D match will see table leaders Nigeria face second placed Benin.

South Sudan who are yet to collect a single point in the qualifiers will play host to Congo Brazzaville in a Group K match that will take place at the Juba National Stadium, while Burundi will host Malawi in a Group L match at the Felix Houhouet Boigny Stadium in Abijan, Ivory Coast.

Action will return on Friday with Uganda hosting South Africa in a Group K match that promises to be a thriller. Kenya will also play away to Zimbabwe in a Group J match to be played at the Peter Moraba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa.

Fixture for CECAFA teams

November 14

Rwanda vs Libya

Niger vs Sudan

South Sudan vs Congo Brazzaville

Burundi vs Malawi

November 15

Zimbabwe vs Kenya

Uganda vs South Africa

November 16

Ethiopia vs Tanzania