Cairo – Four Arab national teams are fighting to secure their place in the upcoming 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. As they prepare for the decisive fifth and sixth rounds of the qualifiers, Tunisia, Comoros, Sudan, and Mauritania must achieve positive results to join the already qualified teams, including Egypt, Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Senegal.
Tunisia’s High-Stakes Matches in Group A
Tunisia has found itself in a challenging position after a recent loss to Comoros (0-1) and a subsequent 1-1 draw. These setbacks led to the dismissal of veteran coach Faouzi Benzarti, with Kais Yaakoubi stepping in as interim coach. “The Carthage Eagles” now face a must-win situation in their final two games: Thursday against Madagascar in Pretoria (South Africa) and Monday against Gambia at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Rades.
Tunisia currently leads Group A with 7 points, followed by Comoros (6), Gambia (5), and Madagascar (2).
Comoros Aims for Second AFCON Appearance
Also in Group A, Comoros needs to secure positive results to ensure its second AFCON qualification after debuting in 2021. They face Gambia away on Friday before hosting Madagascar. Victories in both matches would allow Comoros to join the continent’s biggest football event once again.
Sudan’s Surprising Run in Group F
Sudan, in Group F, requires just one win in their final two matches to qualify, facing Niger in Togo on Thursday and Angola at home on Monday. A victory would secure Sudan’s qualification, potentially at the expense of Ghana, a four-time AFCON champion. Sudan’s recent performances, with four points from two matches against Ghana, have been remarkable, especially considering the challenges the team faces due to ongoing civil conflict in the country.
Sudan is currently second in Group F with 7 points, trailing Angola (12 points), with Ghana and Niger holding two and one points, respectively.
Mauritania’s Battle in Group C
In Group C, Egypt has already secured its spot with an undefeated record. The battle for the second qualifying position is intense, with Botswana in second place (6 points), followed by Cape Verde and Mauritania, both with 3 points. Mauritania must win its remaining matches against Botswana on Friday and Cape Verde on Tuesday to advance. Mauritania will also hope for favorable outcomes from Egypt, who plays Cape Verde on Friday and Botswana at home in Cairo in the final match.
For the latest updates on the AFCON 2025 qualifiers and Arab teams’ standings, visit DZWATCH.DZ.
Author: nor-eleslam
