AFCON 2025 qualifiers: Mixed fortunes for Arab teams as Egypt and Algeria dominate

The fourth round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers has highlighted stark contrasts in the performances of Arab teams.

While Egypt and Algeria have comfortably secured their spots in the tournament, Tunisia and Libya face significant challenges that threaten their chances of qualification.

Tunisia’s campaign, which began with strong wins against Madagascar and Gambia, took an unexpected downturn after a shocking home defeat to Comoros in the third round.

The situation worsened as Tunisia managed only a 1-1 draw in the return leg against the same opponent, sparking fierce criticism of head coach Faouzi Benzarti and his squad.

Despite leading Group A with seven points, Tunisia’s position remains precarious, with just a single point separating them from Comoros and a two-point gap over Gambia.

The next two matches against Madagascar and Gambia will be crucial for the “Carthage Eagles” to secure their place in the tournament.

Libya’s struggles have been even more pronounced, with the team languishing at the bottom of Group D, having earned just one point from three matches.

Preparing for a critical home fixture against Nigeria in Tripoli, the situation escalated when the Nigerian team left Libya in protest over poor treatment, leading to the match being canceled.

The fate of this encounter now rests with the CAF Disciplinary Committee’s decision.

Egypt has been the standout performer among the Arab teams, sealing their qualification with four consecutive wins without conceding a single goal.

Victories over Mauritania, Cape Verde, and Botswana have showcased a solid team performance, led by star player Mohamed Salah.

With their ticket to the finals booked, Egypt appears poised for a strong showing in the upcoming tournament.

Algeria has also been in exceptional form, topping Group E with a perfect record of 12 points from four games.

Known as the “Desert Warriors,” the Algerian squad boasts the second-best attacking record in the qualifiers, highlighting their offensive strength ahead of the AFCON finals.

Meanwhile, Morocco, although already assured of participation as the host nation, has been impressive in the qualifiers, maintaining a perfect record in Group B.

Their strong performances bolster hopes that the “Atlas Lions” will make a significant impact in the tournament.

Sudan provided one of the biggest surprises of the qualifiers by defeating Ghana in the fourth round, securing second place in Group F.

The Sudanese team now needs just a single point from their remaining matches to guarantee qualification, a remarkable achievement considering the challenging circumstances within the country.

As the qualifiers progress, Arab teams find themselves in varying positions, with some cruising to the finals and others battling for survival.

The next rounds promise to be decisive, with the final tournament set to take place in Morocco in 2025.