The race to complete the lineup for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is reaching a fever pitch, with five places still unclaimed. With 19 nations already confirmed for the tournament, 11 teams remain in contention for the final spots, setting the stage for a tense conclusion to the qualifiers between Sunday and Tuesday.
Group C: Botswana Inches Closer to a Historic Return
Botswana, last seen at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012, stands on the brink of a significant achievement.
The Zebras have shown remarkable resilience, with back-to-back wins against Cape Verde in October and a hard-fought draw against Mauritania on Friday.
Their fate is in their own hands as they face Egypt on Tuesday, needing only a draw to secure qualification.
For Mauritania, the path is far more precarious. They must secure a win against Cape Verde, who are already out of the running, and rely on Botswana suffering a defeat to clinch their spot.
Mauritania’s edge lies in a superior head-to-head record against Botswana, but their qualification hopes hinge on two results falling perfectly into place.
Group D: Three-Way Battle for the Final Spot
Group D remains wide open, with Benin, Rwanda, and Libya locked in a tense three-way fight for the last qualifying position. Benin currently occupies second place and controls its destiny.
A draw against Libya on Monday will be enough to secure their ticket to Morocco. However, a loss would eliminate them and open the door for their opponents.
Libya, seeking redemption after a narrow 2-1 defeat to Benin in the first leg, must claim victory in the return fixture.
Additionally, their hopes rest on Rwanda failing to defeat group leaders Nigeria, who have already qualified.
Rwanda’s path is the narrowest. To qualify, they require a Benin loss and must overcome Nigeria in their final match.
Anything less will see their campaign end in disappointment.
The Final Push
With the stakes at their highest, these decisive encounters will determine the last five teams joining Africa’s elite in Morocco.
The drama of these qualifiers highlights the intensity of the competition, as nations vie for a place on the continent’s biggest stage.
All eyes are now on the upcoming fixtures, where dreams will be realized or dashed under the unforgiving spotlight of the final matchday.
