Positive starts for Algeria and Tunisia

09/05/2024 03:46 PM

Algeria and Tunisia kicked off their respective 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaigns with home wins, although Ghana lost in their own backyard.

Thursday’s action began with a 3-2 win for Burundi against Malawi at the Bingu National Stadium.

The Swallows took the lead three times through Chimwemwe Idana’s own-goal (22′), Jean-Claude Girumugisha (33′) and Mokono Eldhino (87), with Chawanangwa Kawonga (31′) and Lanjesi Nkhoma (75′) replying twice for the Flames.

Central African Republic made a strong start in Group B after they cruised to a 3-1 victory over Lesotho at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium in Morocco.

A first-half brace from Louis Mafouta (1′, 24′) put the Wild Beasts in command at the break and Goduine Koyalipou wrapped up all three points on 62 minutes after Motebang Sera (56′) had pulled one back for the Crocodiles.

There was disappointment for Ghana as they slipped to an agonising 1-0 defeat to Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium.

The Black Stars were the better team but there were unable to make the breakthrough and the Black Sable Antelopes snatched victory at the death with a 93rd-minute goal from Milson.

Guinea-Bissau also edged Eswatini 1-0 at the Estadio 24 de Setembro courtesy of Bura’s 14th-minute goal, while Chandrel Massanga struck in the 12th minute to ensure that Congo beat South Sudan by the same scoreline at the Stade Alphonse Massemba-Debat.

Later on that same evening, Tunisia ran out narrow 1-0 victors over Madagascar at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium, where Ferjani Sassi’s 98th-minute goal settled the contest and Algeria triumphed 2-0 against Equatorial Guinea 2-0 at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium thanks to second-half goals from Houssem Aouar (69′) and Amine Gouiri (90+5′).

Thursday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying results:

Malawi 2-3 Burundi

Central African Republic 3-1 Lesotho

Ghana 0-1 Angola

Guinea-Bissau 1-0 Eswatini

Congo 1-0 South Sudan

Tunisia 1-0 Madagascar

Algeria 1-0 Equatorial Guinea