CHAD, Liberia, South Sudan and Eswatini have all advanced to the group phase of the AFCON 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after winning their preliminary round ties.
The ties were concluded last night and the four teams will now join 44 others, including Nigeria’s Super Eagles, in the group phase of the qualifying campaign for spots at the AFCON 2025 tournament billed for Morocco.
Chad progressed 3-1 on aggregate after securing a 2-1 victory away to Mauritius in the second leg yesterday at the National Sports Complex in Saint Pierre.
Jeremy Villeneuve gave Mauritius the lead in the 45th minute, but Chad responded with goals from Charles Tchouplaou in the 74th and Ousmane Hassan in stoppage time. Chad had won the first leg 1-0 at home last week.
On their part, Liberia advanced 2-0 on aggregate despite a 0-0 draw yesterday with Djibouti at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia.
The Lone Star had put themselves in a strong position last week by winning the first leg 2-0 away from home.
South Sudan squeezed through by the tightest of margins, advancing past Sao Tome and Principe on the away goals rule.
In Berkane, Morocco, South Sudan and Sao Tome and Principe played out a 0-0 in the second leg, leaving the tie 1-1 on aggregate.
South Sudan progressed to the group stages having secured a vital away goal in the first leg which ended 1-1 last week.
Finally, Eswatini and Somalia drew 2-2 in their second leg clash at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, yesterday.
Ndzinisa Sabelo opened the scoring for Eswatini in the 46th minute, followed by Matsebula Bongwa’s goal in the 49th minute. However, Somalia fought back with goals from Awad Mohammed in the 76th minute and Ahmed Yusuf in the 86th minute.
However, yesterday’s fightback was not enough for Somalia as Eswatini advanced on a 5-2 aggregate score, thanks to their 3-0 victory in the first leg.
