Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde were among the standout teams on Tuesday night as the second round of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifiers concluded with significant victories.
Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Benin, and Cape Verde all secured crucial wins, bolstering their chances of making it to the tournament in what has been an exciting and competitive start to the qualifiers.
Côte d’Ivoire continued their commanding form in Group G with a 2-0 win over Chad, reinforcing their position at the top of the table.
Having already beaten Zambia in their opening match, the Elephants once again showcased their strength, with goals from Jean-Philippe Krasso and Oumar Diakité.
Playing at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé, Côte d’Ivoire’s victory was a statement of intent as they chase another AFCON title.
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso recorded a 3-1 triumph over Malawi in Bamako, recovering from their previous 1-1 draw with Senegal. Lassina Traoré, who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk, was the star of the night, netting twice in the first half—once with a low header and again after rounding the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
Hassane Bandé’s penalty extended Burkina Faso’s lead, although Malawi’s Zeliat Nkhoma managed a late consolation goal. With this victory, Burkina Faso now sits atop Group L, narrowly ahead of Senegal on goal difference.
Cape Verde also found their stride in Group C, bouncing back from a tough 3-0 loss to Egypt with a crucial 2-0 win over Mauritania. Ryan Mendes was the key player for the Blue Sharks, converting a penalty and then doubling his tally in the second half to secure all three points. The win moves Cape Verde up to second place in the group, rekindling their qualification hopes.
Zambia played out a thrilling 3-2 victory over Sierra Leone in Ndola. The win, their first in the qualifiers, lifts Zambia into second place behind Côte d’Ivoire in Group G. It was a hard-fought contest, but the home side showed resilience to claim a crucial three points.
Benin, too, bounced back in their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Libya. After falling behind early to an Al Badri penalty, Steve Mounié led the charge for Benin, first scoring from an Olaitan cross before calmly slotting home a decisive penalty. The win sees Benin rise to second place in Group A, trailing Nigeria by just a single point.
As the race to AFCON 2025 heats up, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde have emerged as teams to watch, each making crucial strides towards qualification. With several rounds still to play, the competition promises to remain fierce as teams battle for their spot in the prestigious tournament.
Source: CAF Online
