The race for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is heating up as several teams left their mark on matchday 2 of the qualifiers. Egypt and Ivory Coast are among the standout performers, securing commanding victories that have put them in control of their respective groups.
Egypt, the seven-time AFCON champions, maintained their perfect start with a dominant 4-0 win over Botswana. Mohamed Salah found the back of the net, capping off a remarkable display of Egypt’s supremacy throughout the match.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast, the reigning champions, made their presence felt with a 2-0 victory over Chad. This result places them atop Group G with six points, three ahead of Zambia, as they aim to defend their AFCON title.
Other notable results saw South Africa snatch a dramatic 3-2 victory over South Sudan with a last-minute goal, while Nigeria was held to a goalless draw in Rwanda. Despite the draw, Nigeria remains second in Group D with four points, while Rwanda has two points.
East African teams also enjoyed success on the road, with Kenya defeating Namibia 2-1 and Tanzania edging out Guinea 2-1, earning crucial away wins in their respective groups.
Here’s a breakdown of the matchday 2 results and current group standings:
Group C
- Egypt: 6 points (defeated Botswana 4-0)
- Botswana: 0 points (lost to Egypt 0-4)
Group D
- Nigeria: 4 points (held to a 0-0 draw in Rwanda)
- Rwanda: 2 points (held Nigeria to a 0-0 draw)
Group G
- Ivory Coast: 6 points (beat Chad 2-0)
- Chad: 0 points (lost to Ivory Coast 0-2)
- Zambia: 3 points (three points behind Ivory Coast)
Group K
- South Africa: 4 points (clinched a last-minute 3-2 win in South Sudan)
- Uganda: 4 points (behind South Africa on goal difference)
Rwanda’s goalkeeper, Fiacre Ntwari, played a pivotal role in their draw against Nigeria, repeatedly denying efforts from Super Eagles’ star Ademola Lookman, who was nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
For South Africa, substitute Thalente Mbatha delivered once again, netting a 95th-minute winner against South Sudan. Mbatha has now scored two crucial goals in the qualifying campaign.
As the dust settles on matchday 2, Egypt leads Group C with six points, while Nigeria sits second in Group D with four. South Africa heads Group K on goal difference, ahead of Uganda, also with four points.
The AFCON qualifiers will resume in October, with Nigeria set for a crucial doubleheader against Libya. As the campaign progresses, several teams are still in contention, making the battle for a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations far from decided.
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