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Articles by AFCON Qualifying
War-hit Sudan reaches African football showpiece to gift 'rare joy'
BeSoccer 8 minutes ago | Reading time: minutes Football fans in Sudan, a country torn apart by war, are savouring a rare moment of pride after the national team qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals. The feat, achieved at the expense of Ghana, one of the continent's traditional powerhouses, comes despite the team having to play all their matches abroad and the domestic league being suspended.
Minnows Botswana hold Egypt to qualify with Mozambique and Tanzania
Mozambique won 2-1 in Guinea-Bissau and hosts Tanzania edged Guinea 1-0 to also secure places at the biennial African football showpiece, which Morocco will stage from December 21 next year. The other 21 places had been taken before the final 13 qualifiers were played on Tuesday, and four-time winners Ghana will be the shock absentees after finishing last in Group F.
Sudan, Benin qualify, heartbreak for Rwanda after stunning Nigeria
Sudan drew 0-0 with Group F winners Angola in Benghazi to finish runners-up and claim the second qualifying place. The Sudanese finished with eight points, one more than Niger, who upset depleted former champions Ghana 2-1 in Accra. It was even closer in Group D with Benin, who held Libya 0-0 in Tripoli, pipping Rwanda on head-to-head records after both finished with eight points, three less than table-toppers Nigeria.
Riyad Mahrez scores as five-goal Algeria crush Liberia
The other Group E match also produced a wide winning margin with Togo beating Equatorial Guinea 3-0 for their first victory of the campaign. Only pride was at stake, though, as Algeria and Equatorial Guinea had already qualified for the 24-team African football showpiece, which Morocco will host from December 21 next year. Mahrez, a 33-year-old winger who moved from Man City to Saudi club Al Ahli two years ago, was one of three veterans to score for the two-time AFCON champions.
Last-grasp Guirassy goal boosts Guinea in AFCON qualifying
The 28-year-old France-born star scored off a cross to the far post, slamming the ball past goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud. Guirassy has scored six times in AFCON qualifiers to lead the Golden Boot race, with four-goal Moroccan Brahim Diaz his closest challenger. Victory lifted Guinea to nine points, two more than Tanzania, and the west Africans will join already-qualified DR Congo at the finals if they avoid defeat in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
Former AFCON champions Ghana bow out as minnows Comoros qualify
While Ghana were eliminated, minnows Comoros and Mali, Zambia and Zimbabwe qualified, swelling the list of countries heading to Morocco to 19, leaving five places up for grabs. New captain Ayew struck on 18 minutes in Luanda only for Ambrosini 'Zini' Salvador to equalise after 64 minutes for already-qualified Group F winners Angola.
Brahim Diaz scores brace in three minutes for Morocco
BeSoccer 41 minutes ago 130 | Reading time: minutes Brahim Diaz scored a stellar brace in a matter of three minutes against Gabon in his fifth official match for Morocco. The playmaker scored for the third consecutive game for the Atlas Lions in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. Brahim is still smiling in a Morocco shirt. It took the Spanish-Moroccan player three minutes to score a stellar brace against Gabon in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, his fifth game for the Atlas Lions.
Osimhen strike books Nigeria place at Africa Cup of Nations
Despite not playing on Thursday, other results also saw South Africa, Gabon and Uganda secure places at the 24-nation showcase of African football, which kicks off in Morocco on December 21 next year. Sudan missed a chance to qualify after a shock 4-0 loss to Niger - a result which offered a glimmer of hope to Ghana ahead of a must-win match in Angola on Friday.
Another clean sheet for Onana as E. Guinea and I. Coast qualify for AFCON 2025
Are you of legal age? Confirm if you are 18 years old BeSoccer 5 minutes ago | Reading time: minutes Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana kept a fourth clean sheet for Cameroon on Wednesday in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, and Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast clinched finals places. Cameroon, lacking several stars including Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumoand Napoli midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, drew 0-0 with Namibia in Group J in Soweto near Johannesburg.
CAF gives Nigeria three points from unplayed qualifier in Libya
BeSoccer 8 minutes ago | Reading time: minutes The Confederation of African Football's (CAF) Disciplinary Committee on Saturday sanctioned Libya and awarded Nigeria three points in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers following the suspension of this month's meeting due to an incident at a Libyan airport.
Angola, Egypt, Senegal qualify, but Ghana in trouble
Comoros, who shocked Tunisia last week, threatened to repeat the feat when they took the lead in Abidjan, but the former champions recovered to force a 1-1 Group A draw. A total of eight nations have now secured places at the AFCON with Burkina Faso qualifying on Sunday and Algeria and Cameroon on Monday. Hosts Morocco are automatic participants.
Nigeria refuse to play in Libya as Algeria and Cameroon earn qualification
"This is getting scary," said forward Victor Boniface on social media after the Nigerian squad were stranded at an airport 225 kilometres (140 miles) by road from Benghazi, the match venue. "We have been stuck at the airport for almost 13 hours with no food, Wi-Fi or place to sleep. Africa, we can do better," he added on X (formerly twitter).
Nigeria boycott AFCON qualifier after 'inhumane treatment' in Libya
Are you of legal age? Confirm if you are 18 years old BeSoccer 12 minutes ago | Reading time: minutes The Nigeria Football Federation said it will fly the national team back home Monday after alleged "inhumane treatment" in Libya ahead of a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. After the alleged "inhumane treatment" suffered by the Nigeria national team in Lybia, the Nigeria Football Federation stated that the national team will fly back home on Monday.
Super Eagles return to Nigeria after Libyan airport incident
BeSoccer 8 minutes ago | Reading time: minutes Nigeria skipper William Troost-Ekong announced on social media on Monday that the Super Eagles would be flying home in the next few hours after being unwillingly stuck at Al-Abraq airport in Libya. The Nigeria squad were stranded at a Libyan airport, two hours from Benghazi, where they were due to play the second leg of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya.
'Inhumane and uncalled-for': Osimhen describes Nigeria players' situation
Alba Romero 6 minutes ago | Reading time: minutes Victor Osimhen, who is not currently with Nigeria for this month's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, has described as "inhumane and uncalled-for" the situation his compatriots are facing at the Al-Abraq Airport. Nigeria's players have been stuck at Libya's airport for more than 16 hours without food and drink after travelling to the country for their second Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Nigeria stars stranded at Libyan airport over 16 hours
Alba Romero 59 minutes ago 1.7k | Reading time: minutes Nigeria's players have been stuck at Libya's airport for more than 16 hours after travelling to the country for their second Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The Super Eagles have no food or drink. Nigerian supporters endured 85 anxious minutes in Uyo against Libya before Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru moved undetected into the box and fired the winning goal past Murad al Woheshi.
Morocco crush Central African Republic, Guirassy scores hat-trick for Guinea
Azzedine Ounahi netted twice and Abde Ezzalzouli, Achraf Hakimi and Soufiane Rahimi once each as 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco eased to victory in Oujda after leading 4-0 by half-time. It was a predictable Group B outcome as 114 places separate top-ranked African team Morocco from the Central African Republic -- the widest gap among the 24 third-round pairings.
Salah offered not to play against Mauritania on artificial turf
BeSoccer 4 minutes ago | Reading time: minutes Mohamed Salah has been offered by his coach Hossam Hassan not to play in Egypt's next Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritania because of the condition of the pitch where they will play and the violent way their rivals play. Record seven-time African champions Egyptfaced stubborn resistance from Mauritania in Cairo until Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan netted 69 minutes into the Group C clash.
Possible lineups for Nigeria v Libya clash
BeSoccer 4 minutes ago | Reading time: minutes Take a look at Nigeria and Libya's possible lineups for matchday 3 of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The match takes place on Friday at the Akpabio Stadium at 18.00 CET. The Super Eagles are back in action on Friday. Nigeria will face Libya in matchday 3 of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the Akpabio Stadium at 18.00 CET. The two teams have not met since 2018.
Fallen giants Ghana in AFCON trouble after Sudan draw
The matchday 3 Group F stalemate left the Black Stars third in Group F, four points behind Angola and two adrift of Sudan, a team competing while their country is engulfed in a civil war. Angola host Niger in Luanda on Friday and a home victory would move them seven points clear of four-time African champions Ghana halfway through qualifying.
Home is far away for Madagascar in AFCON qualifying
BeSoccer 9 minutes ago | Reading time: minutes When Madagascar host Gambia in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday they will play in Moroccan city Casablanca - 8,250 kilometres (5,125 miles) from the Indian Ocean country. The Malagasys are one of 16 teams forced to seek neutral venues for matchday 3 and 4 fixtures because they lack an international-standard stadium. Madagascar meet Gambia in Group A at the 18,500-seat Larbi Zaouli Stadium.
Salah scores in Egypt romp, S. Africa grab win, Rwanda hold Nigeria
Other African powerhouses had mixed fortunes with South Africa snatching a last-gasp 3-2 win in South Sudan while Nigeria were held 0-0 in Rwanda. Jean-Philippe Krasso, a late addition to the Ivory Coast squad, opened the scoring as the defending champions beat Chad 2-0 in Yaounde to lead Group G by three points from Zambia. East Africa had cause for celebrations with Kenya beating Namibia 2-1 and Tanzania edging Guinea 2-1 to collect maximum points from away outings.
Real Madrid's Brahim fires Morocco past Lesotho with late winner
BeSoccer 40 minutes ago 495 | Reading time: minutes Brahim Diaz, who had already scored in Morocco's win over Gabon, popped up in the 93rd minute against Lesotho to give the Atlas Lions the win. The Madrid man dribbled past two opponents and slotted the ball just inside the right-hand post. Brahim seems to be on a hot streak with Morocco.
Another AFCON blow for Ghana, Diaz rescues Morocco
Defenders scored both goals in the Group F clash in Moroccan city Berkane with Alidu Seidu putting Ghana ahead on 44 minutes and Oumar Sako equalising after 81 minutes. In Group B, top-ranked African team Morocco needed 93 minutes to break down stubborn minnows Lesotho in Agadir with Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Diaz netting for a 1-0 win.
Nigeria, Cameroon win afer chaotic AFCON build-ups
BeSoccer 2 minutes ago | Reading time: minutes Former champions Nigeria and Cameroon put chaotic build-ups behind them on Saturday to make winning starts in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. Ademola Lookman, the lone African nominee for the 2024 Ballon d'Or men's award, scored twice and reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen once as Nigeria beat Benin 3-0 in Uyo.
Supersub Osimhen: Nigerian striker breaks his goal drought in six minutes
BeSoccer 23 minutes ago 1.4k | Reading time: minutes After all the chapters he had gone through before leaving Napoli, Victor Osimhen pulled on the Nigeria shirt and took six minutes to score, his first since May. The striker came on in the 72nd minute and scored in the 78th minute to make it 2-0 against Benin. Osimhen is back. The Nigerian, one of the biggest names on the transfer market, was able to redeem himself after all he has been through in recent months.
Krasso unlikely star as AFCON champions Ivory Coast win against Zambia
Omitted from the original squad for the Group G clash, Jean-Philippe Krasso was called up in place of star Sebastien Haller and came off the bench to score twice in the second half. Haller, who could not travel to west Africa as he was completing a move from Borussia Dortmund to Leganes, had netted the winner when Ivory Coast edged Nigeria 2-1 last February in the 2024 final.
Nigeria pick Osimhen and Lookman for Africa Cup qualifiers
There were also recalls Wednesday for William Ekong, Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi. The Super Eagles open their qualifying campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup in Morocco with a tie against Benin in Uyo on September 7 before flying to Rwanda for their second game three days. Osimhen, a target for Chelsea, and Lookman could well move away from Napoli and Atalanta before Friday's transfer deadline day.
Johannesburg to host 2025 AFCON qualifying draw
Title-holders the Ivory Coast and tournament hosts Morocco are among 48 countries to be divided into 12 groups of four with the winners and runners-up in 11 advancing to the 24-team finals. Morocco are guaranteed a finals place as hosts, but will take part to gain competitive match practice. This means just one of other teams in their mini-league will qualify. Double qualifying matchdays are scheduled for September 2-10, October 7-15 and November 11-19 this year.
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania named joint hosts AFCON in 2027
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, while Morocco will stage the 2025 edition, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Wednesday. Morocco last hosted the AFCON in 1988 and was chosen in 2015 but asked for the tournament to be postponed because of the Ebola virus, although CAF later decided to strip the north African nation of the hosting rights.
Marrakech to host Cup of Nations game despite quake
A key Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Gambia and Congo Brazzaville will go ahead in Marrakech on Sunday, despite a nearby earthquake claiming more than 1,300 lives, officials said. The 6.8 magnitude quake struck late on Friday 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of the Moroccan city that Gambia are using as a home venue because they lack an international stadium.
Hakimi appeals for support for Morocco with blood donations
Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi posted a message on his social media to ask for help for those affected by the earthquake in Morocco. The right-back led by example and posted a photo of himself donating blood. Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi went to donate blood with his teammates to help those affected by the earthquake in Morocco on Saturday. The earthquake has left more than a thousand dead and 1,200 injured. "The priority is to provide blood to those who urgently need it.
Man Utd's Amrabat unavailable for Morocco due to injury
Sofyan Amrabat, who joined Manchester United this summer, has had to leave Morocco's training camp due to injury. Bad news for Morocco. Sofyan Amrabat, who was signed by Manchester United on deadline day of the summer transfer window, has had to withdraw from the national team due to injury, the English club announced on Friday. The 27-year-old will not take part in the September international games against Liberia and Agadir.
Man Utd's Onana makes his return to the Cameroon squad
The Cameroon national team coach has announced his 24-man squad for the forthcoming international break. Andre Onana makes his return, 8 months after his retirement from international duty. On Tuesday 29th August 2023, Cameroon's coach announced his 24-man squad for the upcoming international break. The big news in this list is the return of Andre Onana to his national team. He left the team during the 2022 World Cup because of a disagreement with his coach.
'Thin voice' tells Ghana legend Gyan to retire at 37
Ghana's all-time top scorer with 51 goals called time on a career spanning over two decades at a press conference in Accra. "I want to take this great opportunity, a stage that is difficult in every footballer's career, a moment all footballers do not wish, but when nature dawns, that thin voice will keep echoing into the ears," said Gyan on Tuesday. "It is time, that voice has been clear in my ears, and I have succumbed to it, it is time.
Iheanacho scores winner as Nigeria qualify for Cup of Nations
Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Mali also booked places at the African showpiece from 13th January in the Ivory Coast, raising the number of qualifiers to 14. Hosts the Ivory Coast, holders Senegal, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia had already secured places for the 24-team finals.
Goalkeeper howler sinks Morocco, Zambia stun to qualify
Zambia completed a joyful day for southern Africa by hammering the Ivory Coast 3-0 in Ndola to secure a place in the finals for the first time since 2015. South Africa and World Cup history-makers Morocco had qualified ahead of a lively Group K clash in Johannesburg that drew a 50,000 crowd despite near-freezing conditions.
Salah helps Egypt beat Guinea, Cup of Nations place secured
Serhou Guirassy put Guinea ahead on 26 minutes in the central Moroccan city of Marrakech and substitute Mahmoud Trezeguet levelled three minutes before half-time off a Salah pass. Former Aston Villa forward Trezeguet turned creator after 79 minutes with a cross that Mostafa Mohamed slammed past goalkeeper Ibrahima Kone in the Group D matchday five showdown.
Minnows Central African Republic share spotlight with titans Morocco
Star-stacked Morocco and minnows Central African Republic (C.A.R.) are 111 places apart in the world rankings, but they will share the Africa Cup of Nations matchday five qualifying limelight this week. While Morocco visit South Africa for a first competitive outing since their 2022 World Cup heroics, C.A.R. hope to beat Angola and reach the African finals for the first time.
Senegal, South Africa, B. Faso qualify as Namibia stun Cameroon
Reigning African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane set up Boulaye Dia to score in the first half and give Senegal a 1-0 win over Mozambique in Maputo and an eight-point Group L lead. Mihlali Mayambela pounced on a loose ball to score the winner as South Africa defeated Liberia 2-1 in Monrovia and join shock 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco as the Group K qualifiers.
Iwobi says Nigeria will bounce back after shock loss to Guinea-Bissau
It was one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition as Mama Balde scored for the Wild Dogs, who are 81 places below the Super Eagles in the FIFA world rankings. "As players and staff, we know we have to react to this result," said Iwobi, one of three Premier League stars in the starting line-up. "All we can do is improve and, to the fans, all I can say is that they should stick by us and support us because we give 100 percent not just for ourselves, but also for our nation.
Brahim Diaz to choose between Spain and Morocco
Milan midfielder Brahim Diaz will have to choose whether he wants to play for Spain or Morocco. Luis de la Fuente is already counting on him but Walid Regragui is keeping an eye on his situation. Neither of the two national teams have called him up yet. The national teams are already making their call-ups for the upcoming international matches. Milan midfielder Brahim Diaz, who is on loan from Real Madrid, has a difficult decision to make.
Former Brighton, Newcastle boss Hughton named as new Ghana manager
Former Brighton and Newcastle manager Chris Hughton was on Sunday named as the new coach of Ghana and tasked with taking the Black Stars to the next Africa Cup of Nations. The 64-year-old had been working as a technical adviser for the team since February last year. Ex-Ireland international defender Hughton steps up to replace Otto Addo who quit after Ghana failed to get beyond the group stage of last year's World Cup in Qatar.
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