AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: Sudan secures narrow victory over Niger; Rwanda hold Libya

The road to Morocco officially began on Wednesday when the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers got underway with four matches across four different groups.

In the early kick off, Sudan secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Niger in the opening match in Group F at the Juba Stadium in South Sudan.

The Sudanese broke the deadlock with the all-important goal in the 51st minute through 28-year-old winger Abo Eisha. The Falcons of Jediane moved to the top of the group standings with three points, while Niger are bottom as they are without a point.

Elsewhere in Group A, a strike from Musa Barrow in first-half stoppage time, salvaged a point for Gambia, who held Comoros to a 1-1 at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida, Morocco.

Youssouf M’Changama had put Comoros in front via a spectacular free kick in the 37th minute before Barrow pulled one back for the visitors before the half-time break as the both sides shared the spoils.

Your #AFCONQ2025 results for day 1 are here. 👇 pic.twitter.com/gFEJketWpP

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) September 4, 2024

At the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Ethiopia played out an uneventful goalless draw in their Group H opener.

Meanwhile in Group D, Libya and Rwanda cancelled each other out following a 1-1 draw at the at the 11 June Stadium.

Defender Subhi Al Dhawi scored in the 16th minute for Libya before Innocent Nshuti restored parity for the Amavubi in the 47th minute.

The other opener game in Group D will see three-time African champion Nigeria take on Benin Republic  on Saturday, September 7 at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo.