Tanzania and Rwanda both had to settle for draws in their opening matches of the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Wednesday, missing early opportunities to claim crucial points.
In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania were held to a goalless draw by Ethiopia in a Group H clash. The match, marked by physical battles and cautious play, saw both sides struggle to create clear scoring chances.
The opening half was largely uneventful, with Tanzania managing a few attempts on goal, but Ethiopian goalkeeper Seid Habtamu Aregawi remained untroubled. Ethiopia found space on the wings but couldn’t break through the sturdy Tanzanian defense.
Tanzania made tactical changes at halftime, bringing on Pascal Msindo, while Ethiopia introduced Binyam Fikre and Adis Giday. The substitutions injected some energy into the game, with Tanzania dominating possession and pushing for a goal.
However, Ethiopia’s defense stood firm, frustrating the Taifa Stars’ efforts. Despite Tanzania’s increased tempo and pressure, the match ended in a tense 0-0 draw.
Meanwhile, in Tripoli, Rwanda and Libya also shared points in their Group D opener with a 1-1 draw. Libya took an early lead through Sobhi Al-Dawi’s brilliant solo effort in the 16th minute.
However, Rwanda responded early in the second half, with Innocent Ntshwe netting an equalizer. Both teams pushed for a winner but ultimately had to settle for a point each.
With these results, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Libya will all need to regroup as they prepare for their next AFCON qualifying matches, knowing that every point is vital in the road to Morocco 2025.
