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It was a dramatic round of qualifiers for the AFCONQ2025 despite Libya and Nigeria stealing the show.
The recent round of Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON2025, qualifiers has produced a series of unexpected results, shaking up the competition and potentially altering the landscape of African football.
While the suspension of the Libya vs Nigeria match due to extraordinary circumstances captured headlines, several other matches across the continent delivered surprising outcomes.
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19:23 - 14.10.2024
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Libya-Nigeria Match Suspended Amid Controversy
The highly anticipated clash between Libya and Nigeria was suspended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the Super Eagles were held hostage for 20 hours in Libya.
The Nigerian team eventually returned home without playing, in a situation that overshadowed much of the AFCONQ2025 action across the continent.
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Despite this dramatic turn of events, the other matches produced three results that have sent shockwaves through the qualifiers:
- Sierra Leone Stun AFCON Champions Ivory Coast
In a David vs Goliath encounter, Sierra Leone pulled off a monumental upset by defeating the reigning AFCON champions, Ivory Coast, with a narrow 1-0 victory.
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The Leone Stars, considered underdogs in the match, reignited their AFCON 2025 hopes thanks to a late goal from Amadou Bakayoko in the 85th minute.
This result, the first-ever against Ivory Coast, not only boosted Sierra Leone's qualification chances but also served as a wake-up call for the Elephants of Ivory Coast.
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- Sudan Push Ghana to the Brink
Four-time AFCON champions Ghana find themselves in dire straits after a shocking 2-0 defeat to Sudan.
The Black Stars, led by Ajax star Mohamed Kudus, have managed to collect just two points from a possible 12, leaving their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
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Sudan, managed by former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, scored two quick goals in the second half to secure a victory that few saw coming.
This result has raised serious questions about Ghana's form and could potentially see one of Africa's footballing powerhouses miss out on the continental showpiece.
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- Comoros Holds Tunisia to a Draw
Group A leaders Tunisia narrowly avoided a major upset against minnows Comoros, salvaging a 1-1 draw.
The island nation took a surprise lead early in the second half through Faiz Selemani, putting immense pressure on the favoured Tunisians.
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It took a 68th-minute equaliser from Yassine Meriah for Tunisia to escape with a point, in a result that could have significant implications for the group standings.
These unexpected outcomes have added an extra layer of intrigue to the AFCON 2025 qualification process, proving once again that in African football, no result can be taken for granted.
As the competition progresses, teams will need to reassess their strategies, with traditional powerhouses now aware that their reputations alone won't be enough to secure qualification.
The football world will be watching closely as the race for AFCON 2025 spots heats up, with the potential for more surprises in the coming rounds of qualifiers.
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