Tanzania Stuns Guinea to Qualify for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Tanzania Stuns Guinea to Qualify for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Tanzania delivered a stunning upset against Guinea to secure their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), joining Botswana and Mozambique as the final qualifiers for next year’s tournament in Morocco. Pep Guardiola Extends Contract at Manchester City

Tanzania’s Triumph

• Match Details: Tanzania defeated Guinea 1-0 in Dar Es Salaam.
• Key Moment: Simon Msuva’s 61st-minute header sealed the win, as he capitalized on a cross inside the six-yard box.
• Group H Standings: Guinea, needing only a draw to qualify, fell short as Tanzania overtook them to clinch the second spot.
• Historical Context: This marks a significant achievement for Tanzania, ranked 34 places below Guinea globally. The Taifa Stars will also co-host the 2027 Afcon alongside Kenya and Uganda.

Botswana’s Rare Qualification

• Result: Botswana drew 1-1 with Egypt in Cairo to secure their second-ever Afcon qualification.
• Highlights:
  • Botswana’s Goal: Omaatla Kebatho took advantage of Egypt’s defensive errors to give Botswana an early lead.
  • Equalizer: Trezeguet restored parity for Egypt shortly after.
• Group C Outcome: Botswana finished second, edging out Mauritania by one point, despite Mauritania’s 1-0 win over Cape Verde.
• Historical Context: Botswana’s only previous Afcon appearance was in 2012, where they lost all three group games.

Mozambique’s Success in Group I

• Match Details: Mozambique secured a 2-1 victory against Guinea-Bissau.
• Key Moments:
  • Bruno Langa opened the scoring for Mozambique in the 9th minute.
  • Everton striker Beto equalized for Guinea-Bissau just before halftime.
  • Stanley Ratifo netted the decisive goal for Mozambique in the 52nd minute.
• Outcome: Mozambique advanced to the finals, marking consecutive qualifications for the Mambas.

2025 Afcon Overview

• Dates: The tournament will take place from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
• Draw Details: The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to announce the group draw date.
• Qualified Teams:
  • Hosts: Morocco
  • Other Teams: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

This year’s qualifiers highlight the growing competitiveness of African football, with lower-ranked teams like Tanzania and Botswana defying the odds to book their places on the continent’s biggest stage.