Tanzania and Ethiopia kicked off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign with a goalless draw in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday setting the stage for a string of closely contested matches in this week’s qualifiers.
All eyes were on Group F, where Sudan, Gambia, and Tanzania sought to gain early momentum in their pursuit of a place in the prestigious tournament.
Despite the lack of goals in the clash between Tanzania and Ethiopia, there was no shortage of drama and tight battles elsewhere across the continent.
Sudan emerged as early leaders in Group F following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger in Juba.
The Falcons of Jediane capitalized on a solitary strike from Abo Eisa in the 51st minute to secure three crucial points on home soil.
The match was a physical affair, with both teams creating limited clear-cut chances. However, Sudan showed more composure in the final third, and Eisa’s goal proved to be the difference-maker.
Niger pushed hard for an equalizer in the final stages of the match but was denied by a resilient Sudanese defense.
The win sees Sudan take an early lead in the group, giving them a significant boost as they aim to qualify for the AFCON finals.
Elsewhere, Comoros and Gambia battled to a 1-1 draw in their Group A fixture at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium in Morocco.
Comoros, seeking to make their mark in the qualifiers, took the lead through their talisman Youssouf M’Changama in the 37th minute. The forward’s clinical finish gave the island nation hopes of securing all three points.
However, Gambia, known for their fighting spirit, responded swiftly through Al Taawoun’s Musa Barrow, who equalized just before the break.
Despite efforts from both sides to find a winner, the second half saw fewer clear opportunities, and the match ended with both teams settling for a share of the points.
In another Group A contest, Libya and Rwanda played out a 1-1 draw in what proved to be another tightly contested affair.
Both teams showed attacking intent but were ultimately unable to find a breakthrough beyond their lone goals.
Libya opened the scoring early on, but Rwanda fought back to level the game in the second half, ensuring both teams walked away with a point.
In the day’s final match, Tanzania and Ethiopia failed to separate themselves in a goalless draw at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.
Neither side could create any significant chances, and the match ended with both teams content to take a point from their Group F opener.
The 2025 AFCON qualifiers have kicked off with intense matches and fans can expect more thrilling encounters as the journey to the tournament unfolds.
