Cote d’ivoire booked their place in Morocco 2025 while Togo were eliminated on Wednesday as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifications race hit the home stretch, Sports247 reports.
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The defending champion joined the list of already qualified teams on Wednesday without kicking a ball as other group G mates, Chad and Sierra Leone battled to a 1-1 draw at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on Wednesday night.
The result means title holders Cote d’Ivoire qualify for next year’s competition in Morocco as they cannot be overtaken third-placed Leone Stars, whose qualification chances is now hanging on a knife edge going into the final day.
With nine points at the top of the group, the Elephants are guaranteed at least the second position in the group as Sierra Leone, with just one match remaining, are four points adrift of the current group leaders.
The Leone Stars struck first in the 29th minute through Abu Dumbuya. His powerful shot from outside the box sailed into the top left corner, giving the visitors an early lead.
Dumbuya’s goal energized Sierra Leone, who looked to solidify their position in the Group G standings and keep their qualification chances alive.
Chad responded just five minutes later. Marius Mouandilmadji was fouled in the penalty area, and the referee awarded a penalty.
Mahamat Thiam stepped up and confidently converted, sending the ball into the top left corner to level the score at 1-1.
Elsewhere on Wednesday a late penalty from Mo Sangare secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for Liberia over Togo in at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex to the delight of their fans who tropped out to support the team despite their slim chance of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON.
The victory eliminated Togo from the race with just two points in five matches while the Lone Star to thirds in the group with four points.
Also on Wednesday, already out Namibia held an already-qualified Cameroon to a goalless draw in their at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The match, which saw Namibia’s Brave Warriors playing for pride, ended 0-0 as both teams failed to break the deadlock despite some close attempts.
More teams are expected to secure their qualifications on Thursday while more eliminations will be confirmed as well after the conclusion of Matchday five on Thursday, 14 October 2025.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
13:00: South Sudan vs Congo, Juba Stadium, Juba
13:00: Lesotho vs Central African Republic, Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
16:00: Burundi vs Malawi, Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny, Abidjan
16:00: Niger vs Sudan, Stadium TBC
13:00: Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria, Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
16:00 Madagascar v Tunisia, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
16:00: Rwanda vs Libya, Amahoro Stadium, Kigali
19:00: Benin vs Nigeria, Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny, Abidjan
19:00: Burkina Faso vs Senegal, Stade 26 Mars, Bamako
