Cameroon, Zimbabwe battle for top spot in Group J
With top spot in Group J of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers still up for grabs, Cameroon and Zimbabwe will do battle at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo on Tuesday.
The home side are unbeaten in each of their last seven meetings against the visitors, whose last win in this fixture came back in the 1994 World Cup qualifying round of matches.
Cameroon had to make do with a share of the spoils from their most recent outing against the Warriors of Namibia which ended goalless at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Despite being in the ascendancy for large spells of the clash in South Africa, Marc Brys saw his side fail to find the back of the net for only the second time since he took the reins from Rigobert Song back in April.
Nonetheless, it remains a more than positive start to life in charge of the Indomitable Lions for 62-year-old Brys, who is still yet to taste defeat after picking up four wins and three draws from his seven games to date.
With 11 points on the board from a possible 15, Cameroon currently lead the way in Group J of the qualifiers, two points ahead of Zimbabwe leading up to Tuesday’s meeting in Yaounde.
Zimbabwe are one of 11 teams without defeat in the AFCON qualifiers after the first five rounds of matches and could become one of only two current group runners-up to achieve this feat alongside Comoros.
Both teams have given a good account of themselves over the last couple of matches, and Tuesday’s encounter could really swing either way.
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Egypt play host to Botswana in Cairo
With their place in their home tournament already guaranteed, Egypt bring their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign to an end on Tuesday when they play host to Botswana in Cairo’s 30 June Stadium on Tuesday.
Having lost each of the last four meetings between the two nations, the Zebras will head into the group finale looking to get one over the home side and secure qualification for the continental showpiece for the first time since 2012.
Egypt’s 100% record in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign came to an end on Friday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Cape Verde.
Before that, Egypt had already secured their spot in the continental showpiece for a fifth straight edition as they won each of their opening four games.
With Friday’s result, Hossam Hassan‘s men have now gone seven straight games without defeat across all competitions, claiming two draws and five wins.
Botswana, who have failed to feature in AFCON since their group-stage exit in 2012, have picked up seven points from a possible 15 to sit second in Group C, five points off leaders Egypt and just three above third-placed Cape Verde.
While Egypt can rest on their laurels, having already secured qualification, Botswana need a point at the 30 June Stadium to end their 12-year AFCON absence.
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Senegal and Burundi go head-to-head in final game
Senegal and Burundi will go head-to-head in their final game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade on Tuesday.
The clash will have no bearing on the qualification status of either team, as the hosts have already secured their spot at the tournament, while the visitors are now mathematically unable to qualify.
Having already secured a place at the 2025 AFCON in the last international window after their win over Malawi, Senegal had only pride and the top spot to play for when they took to the pitch last Thursday against Burkina Faso, who had also booked their spot.
Both teams were tied on 10 points heading into the game, with the Lions of Teranga in second place due to an inferior goal difference – but by the end of 90 minutes, Pape Thiaw‘s men had moved to the top of the group after a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso, thanks to Mouhamadou Diarra‘s 83rd-minute goal.
Ensuring they hold onto this spot will be the aim when they take on Burundi at home on Tuesday, and they head into the game knowing that a draw would be enough to achieve that.
Former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane has scored three goals for Senegal in this competition, and he is expected to get another opportunity to add to his tally, even though a second-string side is mostly expected.
Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson could also start, getting another chance to add to the one goal he has scored so far, with Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr also in contention to retain their spots in attack.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Bafana look to seal top spot in Afcon qualifiers
South Africa will look to seal top spot in Group K of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers when they host South Sudan for their final match, set for the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday night. South Africa secured their place at the next Afcon in the previous round of games, with South Sudan’s 3-2 win over Congo last week Thursday handing both Bafana Bafana and Uganda a ticket to Morocco 2025.
South Africa then went on to defeat the Cranes 2-0 in Kampala the following day to leapfrog to the top of the group (courtesy of second-half goals from Thapelo Morena and Patrick Maswanganyi) and guaranteeing that position with a win over South Sudan in the ‘Mother City’ will be their objective on Tuesday evening.
Finishing top of the standings will have the additional benefit of giving Bafana a better seeding for the Afcon group stage draw.
In head-to-head stats, South Africa and South Sudan have met in just one previous match. Bafana beat the Bright Stars 3-2 in Juba in September earlier in this Afcon qualifier campaign.
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FIXTURES
Group C
Group G
Group H
Group I
Guinea-Bissau 16:00 Mozambique
Group J
Group K
South Africa 16:00 South Sudan
Group L
