Sadio Mane goal secures Senegal’s spot at AFCON 2025

Sadio Mane’s injury-time goal secured Senegal’s spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), while Angola, DR Congo, and Egypt also qualified with two rounds of matches remaining.

The Teranga Lions were headed for a goalless draw against Malawi, but Mane, now with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, scored in the 96th minute in Lilongwe to seal the win.

Senegal now sits on 10 points in Group L, alongside Burkina Faso, and both teams have secured their places in the 2025 Afcon, set to be held in Morocco.

The 2021 Afcon champions achieved this despite recently parting ways with long-time coach Aliou Cisse.

Elsewhere, reigning champions Ivory Coast suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat to Sierra Leone, and Ghana is on the verge of elimination after a loss to Sudan.

The Black Stars are third in Group F, with just two points from four games, and must win their remaining fixtures against Angola and Niger while hoping Sudan, with seven points, loses both of their matches.

The final rounds of qualifiers will take place next month, and the 2025 Afcon is scheduled to start on December 21, 2025, with the final set for January 18, 2026.

Egypt, the record seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions, secured their fourth win in Group C despite captain Mohamed Salah being released early from international duty.

The Pharaohs clinched a 1-0 victory over Mauritania with Ibrahim Adel scoring in the 85th minute in Nouakchott.

DR Congo also qualified for the finals as Meschack Elia scored twice late in their 2-0 away win against Tanzania.

The Leopards, who finished fourth in the 2023 tournament, have won all four matches in Group H without conceding a goal.

Uganda is on the verge of qualifying after a 2-0 victory over South Sudan, but must wait for confirmation after Congo held South Africa to a 1-1 draw in Group K.

Meanwhile, five-time Afcon winners Cameroon and Algeria secured their places in the 24-team tournament. Cameroon edged Kenya 1-0 in Kampala thanks to a goal from Boris Enow, while a penalty from Remy Bensebaini in the 18th minute gave Algeria a 1-0 win over Togo in Lome.

Angola maintained their perfect record in Group F with a 1-0 victory over Niger, thanks to Zine’s first-minute goal in a match held in neutral Casablanca.

In contrast, Ghana faces the risk of missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004, following a 2-0 defeat to Sudan away from home.

Despite fielding a strong side led by West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus and featuring Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, the Black Stars conceded two rapid second-half goals.

Sudan’s Ahmed Al-Tash scored in the 62nd minute, bundling the ball in after Saif Teiri’s shot hit the post.

Mohamed Abdelrahman added a second just three minutes later, finishing a through ball from Ahmed Yousif past Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi.

Due to the ongoing civil war in Sudan, the match was played in Benghazi, Libya. Sudan, managed by former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, last appeared in the Nations Cup during the 2021 edition in Cameroon.

Morocco (hosts), Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Senegal