2025 AFCON Qualifiers: Comoros Upset Tunisia, Senegal Dominates Malawi
Comoros surprised Tunisia with a 1-0 victory, marking Tunisia’s first home defeat in over ten years. Senegal defeated 10-man Malawi 4-0, while Mali edged out Guinea-Bissau 1-0. Angola won 2-0 against Niger, solidifying their qualifying positions.
In a remarkable turn of events during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, Comoros achieved an impressive 1-0 victory against Tunisia at the Rades Olympic Stadium. This victory marked Tunisia’s first home defeat in more than ten years in AFCON qualifying matches, while Comoros celebrated their inaugural win in the current qualification series. Despite dominating possession with over 70 percent and creating numerous scoring opportunities, Tunisia was unable to penetrate Comoros’ tightly organized defense. The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute courtesy of Rafiki Said, who netted the decisive goal with a right-footed shot. In a contrasting match, Senegal triumphed over a 10-man Malawi with a resounding 4-0 scoreline. The match took a pivotal turn in the 16th minute, when Brighton Munthali received a red card for a foul on Sadio Mané. Senegal’s Pape Guèye initiated the scoring with a powerful strike from long range in the 35th minute, followed by Sadio Mané extending his tally for Senegal with his 45th goal in the 69th minute. Not long after, Boulaya Dia added to the tally just two minutes later. Nicolas Jackson concluded the scoring with his first international goal in the 77th minute, capping a dominant performance. Further in the qualifiers, Mali secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau, with El Bilal Touré scoring the decisive goal in the 62nd minute. Despite facing a resolute opponent, Mali’s perseverance kept them well placed in their qualifying group. Additionally, Angola emerged victorious with a 2-0 win against Niger, thanks to a penalty conversion by Mabululu in the 75th minute and a subsequent goal by Milson ten minutes later. Niger struggled to create significant threats against Angola’s defense, which solidified Angola’s position in their qualifying group.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers serve as a critical stage in determining which national teams will compete in the prestigious tournament. These qualifiers attract significant attention as teams vie for spots, and the matches often feature unexpected outcomes, underscoring the unpredictable nature of football. The recent matches highlighted the potential for upsets, as evidenced by Comoros’ victory over a traditionally strong Tunisian side. Furthermore, Senegal’s commanding win against Malawi exemplifies their strength and determination in securing a place in the AFCON 2025 tournament.
The latest round of 2025 AFCON qualifiers showcased a blend of anticipated victories and shocking upsets, particularly Comoros’ 1-0 win over Tunisia, which ended a long-standing home unbeaten streak for the latter. Senegal’s impressive performance against a weakened Malawi also emphasized their prowess in the qualification campaign. Mali and Angola’s hard-fought victories further contribute to an increasingly competitive qualification process as teams strive for a place in the AFCON tournament.
Original Source: businessday.ng
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