Nigeria, Uganda on the brink with Ghana close to exit

Nigeria and Uganda are on the brink of securing their places in the finals as matchday five of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers takes centre stage.

With both sides needing just a point to qualify for the tournament set to be hosted by Morocco, Nigeria and Uganda will lock horns with Benin in Abidjan on Thursday and South Africa in Kampala respectively on Friday.

Nigeria's West African rivals, Ghana, on the other hand, could be eliminated by the time they take on Angola in Luanda on Friday, as Sudan will qualify if they avoid defeat away against Niger in Lome on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Group A leaders Tunisia will edge closer to securing a record-extending 17th successive appearance at the finals if they defeat Madagascar in Pretoria on Thursday.

While African champions Ivory Coast need just three points to be sure of an opportunity to defend their title in Morocco as they travel to Zambia to take on Chipolopolo in Ndola on Friday.

Having both already qualified Morocco and Egypt will be away to Gabon, and Cape Verde respectively on Friday. An already qualified Senegal side will take on Burkina Faso in Bamako on Thursday.

Afcon 2025 Qualifiers fixtures (all times in GMT+2):

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

3pm: Namibia v Cameroon, Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg

6pm: Liberia v Togo, Samuel Kayon Doe Sports Complex, Paynesville

9pm: Chad v Sierra Leone, Stade d´Ebimpe, Abidjan

Thursday, November 14, 2024

3pm South Sudan v Congo, Juba Stadium, Juba

3pm Lesotho v Central African Republic, Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein

6pm Burundi v Malawi, Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny, Abidjan

6pm Niger v Sudan, Stadium TBC

3pm Equatorial Guinea v Algeria, Estadio de Malabo, Malabo

6pm Madagascar v Tunisia, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

6pm Rwanda v Libya, Amahoro Stadium, Kigali

9pm Benin v Nigeria, Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny, Abidjan

9pm Burkina Faso v Senegal, Stade 26 Mars, Bamako

Friday, November 15, 2024

3pm Botswana v Mauritania, Obed Itani Chilume Stadium, Francistown

6pm Cape Verde v Egypt, Estádio Nacional "Blue Shark," Cidade da Praia

6pm Zambia v Ivory Coast, Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola

3pm Uganda v South Africa, Mandela National Stadium, Kampala

6pm Eswatini v Guinea-Bissau, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

6pm Mozambique v Mali, Estadio Nacional do Zimpeto, Maputo

6pm Zimbabwe v Kenya, Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg

9pm Angola v Ghana, Estadio 11 de Novembro, Luanda

9pm Gambia v Comoros, TBC

9pm Gabon v Morocco, Stade de la Rénovation, Franceville

Saturday, November 16, 2024

6pm Ethiopia v Tanzania, Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa

9pm Guinea v DR Congo, Stade d´Ebimpe, Abidjan