The second round of qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations saw a mixed bag of results for some of the continent’s heavyweights. While some teams maintained their strong starts to the campaign, others faced unexpected challenges.
Ghana, looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss in their opening match, found themselves held to a 1-1 draw by Niger. Alidu Seidu put Ghana ahead in the first half with a stunning long-range strike. However, they were unable to hold on to their lead, and Oumar Sako equalized for Niger with a goal from a set piece in the 81st minute.
Senegal, aiming to maintain their top spot in Group L, had a tougher time against Burundi, a team significantly lower in the FIFA rankings. A penalty was awarded to Senegal when Sadio Mané was fouled, but the Egyptian referee decided not to allow him to take the penalty after Mané left the field for treatment. Ismailia Sarr eventually converted the penalty in the 71st minute, securing a narrow 1-0 victory for Senegal.
Morocco, who will host the next finals, but are still participating in the qualifiers, also had a tough match against Lesotho. It wasn’t until the dying minutes of the game that Real Madrid attacker Brahim Diaz scored a stunning individual goal, securing a 1-0 victory for Morocco in Agadir.
Meanwhile, Angola, DR Congo, and Uganda continued their strong starts to the campaign. Angola, who topped their group after a victory over Sudan in their first match, maintained their position after a 2-1 win against Sudan. DR Congo secured their second consecutive victory in Group H after a 2-0 win over Ethiopia in Dar-es-Salaam, while Uganda, who narrowly missed out on upsetting South Africa in their first game, earned a 2-0 home victory over Congo in Kampala.
The second round of qualifiers concluded on Tuesday with 15 fixtures. The teams will now look to continue their journey towards qualifying for the 2025 African Cup of Nations finals. With the competition heating up, fans are eager to see which teams will emerge as contenders for the prestigious title.
