AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: Chad, Eswatini, Liberia, and South Sudan Move to Next Stage
Chad, Eswatini, Liberia, and South Sudan secured their spots in the main stage of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after successful performances in the preliminary round matches held on Tuesday.
These four teams will now advance to join the top 44 ranked teams in Africa for the main group-stage draw, marking a significant step in their journey towards the prestigious tournament.
While the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is yet to announce the dates for the qualifying draw and the finals to be held in Morocco next year, the successful progression of these teams sets the stage for an exciting competition.
The scheduling of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in June and July next year presents a potential clash with the 2025 Nations Cup, adding an element of complexity to the tournament planning.
In the preliminary round matches, Eswatini, Liberia, and South Sudan managed to avoid upsets against lower-ranked opponents. Eswatini’s dominant 3-0 victory over Somalia in the away leg provided them with a comfortable cushion, ultimately securing their progression despite a 2-2 draw in the second leg.
Chad faced a tougher challenge against Mauritius but managed to overcome them with a resilient performance, clinching a 3-1 aggregate victory after a dramatic 2-1 win in the second leg.
Liberia advanced to the main stage after holding Djibouti to a goalless draw, relying on their 2-0 victory from the first leg to secure their passage.
Similarly, South Sudan secured their spot after a goalless draw in the second leg against Sao Tome and Principe, with their 1-1 draw in the initial meeting proving decisive on away goals.
The results of the preliminary qualifying round set the stage for an exciting journey ahead as these teams prepare to compete against the best in Africa for a chance to claim glory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
