The journey to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco began with a flurry of action as several teams kicked off their TotalEnergies CAF AFCON qualifiers on Friday.
DR Congo and Tunisia emerged victorious in their opening matches, while South Africa and Uganda played out an entertaining draw, and Togo shared the spoils with Liberia in a dramatic finish.
DR Congo secured a crucial 1-0 win over Guinea, with Edo Kayembe’s 27th-minute strike proving to be the difference. The game saw DR Congo dominate possession in the first half, and Kayembe’s clinical finish gave them the edge.
Guinea pushed for an equalizer in the second half, but the Congolese defense stood firm, ensuring a perfect start for Sébastien Desabre’s side. Guinea, however, will look to rebound quickly as they prepare to face Tanzania in their next fixture.
In Tunis, Tunisia left it late to claim a 1-0 victory over Madagascar. The match seemed destined for a goalless draw, with Madagascar’s defense holding strong throughout the game. However, in the eighth minute of stoppage time,
Ferjani Sassi broke the deadlock with a dramatic goal, snatching all three points for Tunisia in front of an ecstatic home crowd. The result gives Tunisia a strong start to their AFCON campaign, while Madagascar will be left ruing their missed opportunity to secure a valuable point.
In Johannesburg, South Africa and Uganda played out a thrilling 2-2 draw. Lyle Foster put South Africa ahead in the 14th minute, but Uganda responded in stunning fashion with two quickfire goals from Derrick Omendi and Rogers Mato early in the second half. Uganda seemed poised to walk away with a famous win, but Thalente Mbatha’s 95th-minute equalizer rescued a point for Bafana Bafana in a dramatic conclusion to the match. Both teams will now look to build on this result as they continue their qualification campaigns.
Elsewhere, Togo and Liberia shared the points in a 1-1 draw that featured late drama. Kevin Denkey gave Togo the lead in the 72nd minute, but Wesley Gibson struck deep into stoppage time to equalize for Liberia, ensuring the match ended in a stalemate. Both sides showed moments of promise, but Liberia’s resilience in the dying minutes earned them a crucial point away from home.
In a more subdued encounter, Sierra Leone and Chad played out a goalless draw. Both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances, resulting in a tightly contested but ultimately frustrating result for both sides.
As the AFCON 2025 qualifiers get underway, the first round of matches has already set the tone for what promises to be a competitive and unpredictable road to Morocco.
