Egypt secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Botswana on Tuesday, with captain Mohamed Salah leading the charge as matchday two of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers wrapped up.
The Pharaohs, seven-time champions, asserted their dominance in Group C, maintaining their perfect record with six points from two games.
Elsewhere on the continent, South Africa snatched a dramatic last-minute win over South Sudan, while Nigeria faltered in a goalless draw against Rwanda.
Egypt Dominate Botswana in Francistown
Mohamed Salah, the talismanic forward for Liverpool, was once again pivotal in Egypt’s triumph as they overwhelmed Botswana, who were hindered by travel issues that saw them arrive in Francistown only hours before kick-off.
Egypt wasted no time capitalizing on their opponents’ lack of preparation, with Mahmoud Hassan, known as Trezeguet, opening the scoring just four minutes into the game.
Salah’s shot was parried by Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko, allowing Trezeguet to easily slot the ball home for an early lead.
Egypt continued to press throughout the first half, and just before the break, Trezeguet doubled their advantage with a clinical finish.
The onslaught didn’t stop after the interval, as Salah extended Egypt’s lead in the 56th minute. A precise cross slipped past four Botswana defenders, finding Salah in perfect position to tap in the third goal.
Mostafa Fathy completed the rout with a stoppage-time strike, sealing the 4-0 win and cementing Egypt’s place atop Group C.
With six points after two games, including a 3-0 victory over Cape Verde last Friday, Egypt looks well on their way to securing AFCON qualification.
Botswana, despite the loss, showed resilience under difficult circumstances but now face an uphill battle, having collected no points thus far in the qualifiers.
Nigeria Stunned in Rwanda Stalemate
One of the most surprising results of the round came in Kigali, where Nigeria, runners-up in the 2024 AFCON, were held to a 0-0 draw by an inspired Rwandan side.
The Super Eagles, heavy favorites, struggled to break down a determined Rwandan defense, with goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari producing a series of heroic saves to deny the visitors.
Ntwari’s performance was a standout, especially against Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, who is fresh off a stellar season with Atalanta, including a hat-trick in their UEFA Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
Lookman was one of Nigeria’s most dangerous players throughout the match, but Ntwari repeatedly thwarted his efforts.
The Nigerian star thought he had broken the deadlock midway through the first half with a powerful header, but the goal was disallowed after a teammate was penalized for a foul.
Despite dominating possession and creating multiple opportunities, Nigeria was unable to convert, with Rwanda’s energy and commitment earning them a well-deserved point.
The result leaves Nigeria on four points in Group D, just ahead of Benin with three, while Rwanda moves to two points.
Libya, with one point, will face Nigeria in a crucial home-and-away doubleheader in October, with Nigeria needing to find their scoring touch to secure qualification.
Mbatha Saves South Africa Again with Late Heroics
Meanwhile, South Africa’s qualification campaign continues to be marked by dramatic finishes. Playing against South Sudan in Juba, the Bafana Bafana secured a 3-2 victory, thanks to an injury-time winner from substitute Thalente Mbatha.
The artificial pitch in Juba provided a challenging surface, but South Africa managed to come away with all three points.
The match began on a difficult note for South Africa as South Sudan’s Toto Okello converted a penalty to give the home side a 1-0 lead. However, an Oswin Appollis brace turned the game around before halftime, putting South Africa in control.
South Sudan fought back in the second half, with Valentino Yuel capitalizing on some poor defending to equalize in the 57th minute.
The Bright Stars looked set to claim a hard-fought draw, but Mbatha, who had made his national team debut just days earlier, delivered the decisive blow in the 95th minute.
When a Teboho Mokoena free-kick was only partially cleared, Mbatha rifled the ball into the net, sparking wild celebrations among the South African players.
Mbatha’s heroics also helped South Africa salvage a 2-2 draw against Uganda last Friday, where he scored in stoppage time.
The result in Juba moves South Africa to second place in Group L, behind Uganda on goal difference. Congo Brazzaville follows with three points, while South Sudan remains without a point.
Ivory Coast Off to a Strong Start
In Yaounde, Ivory Coast, the defending AFCON champions, earned a 2-0 victory over Chad to lead Group G by three points. Late call-up Jean-Philippe Krasso opened the scoring for the Elephants, who are now on six points after two matches.
Zambia trails Ivory Coast in second place with three points, setting up a competitive battle in the coming rounds.
East African Success Stories
East African teams had much to celebrate during this round of qualifiers. Kenya traveled to Namibia and secured a 2-1 victory, courtesy of a stunning free-kick from John Avire, which propelled them to the top of Group J.
Kenya is now ahead of five-time AFCON champions Cameroon on goals scored, following Cameroon’s 1-0 win over Burundi last Friday.
Tanzania also grabbed a valuable away win, defeating Guinea 2-1 in Yamoussoukro. Mudathiri Yahya’s 88th-minute strike proved to be the winner, lifting Tanzania to second place in Group H, two points behind the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Looking Ahead
As the AFCON qualifiers continue, the race for places at the 2025 tournament is heating up. Egypt’s dominant form, Nigeria’s unexpected struggles, and South Africa’s late-game drama are among the major talking points from the latest round of matches.
With more crucial fixtures on the horizon, including Nigeria’s double-header against Libya and key clashes involving Cameroon, Kenya, and Tanzania, fans can expect plenty of excitement as teams fight for their spot in the prestigious tournament.