In a thrilling twist on the second day of matchday one of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifiers, Angola stunned Ghana’s Black Stars with a dramatic last-minute 1-0 victory at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. Felicio Milson’s 93rd-minute strike broke Ghanaian hearts, sealing the upset of the day in front of a packed home crowd.
Ghana 0-1 Angola: Late Drama in Kumasi
Despite high expectations and a star-studded lineup, Ghana’s Black Stars were left frustrated as they kicked off their AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign on a sour note. The match saw Ghana field some of their top talent, including Arsenal’s Thomas Partey, Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus, and forwards Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, but the hosts struggled to break through Angola’s resilient defense.
The Black Stars dominated possession but were wasteful in front of goal, failing to convert a series of opportunities throughout the match. As the game approached its dying moments, the Palancas Negras of Angola shocked the home side when Felicio Milson capitalized on a defensive lapse to score deep into stoppage time, sending the Angolan bench into wild celebrations. The late goal handed Angola a valuable 1-0 victory and left Ghana’s players and fans in disbelief.
The defeat marks a difficult start for Ghana, who were hoping to bounce back from their disappointing early exit in the previous AFCON tournament.
Central African Republic 3-1 Lesotho: Mafouta Stars Again
Meanwhile, the Central African Republic (CAR) produced a dominant display with a commanding 3-1 victory over Lesotho. Louis Mafouta, who tormented Ghana in their last World Cup 2026 qualifier, continued his fine form with a brace in the opening 24 minutes. Mafouta’s first goal came within just a minute of kickoff, setting the tone for a one-sided contest.
Lesotho briefly clawed back into the game when M. Sera scored in the 56th minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1, but CAR remained in control. Goduine Koyalipou sealed the win for the hosts in the 62nd minute, rounding off an impressive performance, despite some nervy moments in defense.
Congo 1-0 South Sudan: Massanga Secures Early Lead
Congo also began their qualifying campaign on a positive note, edging South Sudan 1-0 in a closely fought contest. Chandrelle Massanga’s goal in the 12th minute proved decisive as Congo held on to secure the three points. Led by Bryan Passi, the Congolese side showed resilience to keep South Sudan at bay and start their road to AFCON 2025 with a victory.
Guinea-Bissau 1-0 Eswatini: Nogueira’s Early Strike Enough
Elsewhere, Guinea-Bissau earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Eswatini. Bura Nogueira’s 14th-minute strike was the difference in a game where the home side dominated possession and created several chances. Despite their inability to extend the lead, Guinea-Bissau’s solid defensive performance ensured they walked away with all three points.
With Angola’s stunning victory over Ghana and impressive performances from the Central African Republic, Congo, and Guinea-Bissau, the early stages of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers have already delivered plenty of excitement. All eyes will now be on the remaining fixtures as teams continue their journey toward Africa’s premier football tournament.
