Equatorial Guinea Secures Afcon 2025 Spot Following Togo’s Defeat

Pablo Ganet was instrumental in Equatorial Guinea’s progression to the last 16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Equatorial Guinea has now secured qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations without playing a match, following Togo’s defeat in their penultimate Group E qualifier on Wednesday. Togo, known as the Sparrowhawks, required a victory against the already-eliminated Liberia to maintain their prospects of advancing to the finals in Morocco. Nevertheless, the Lone Stars of Liberia secured a 1-0 triumph in Monrovia, with Mohammed Sangare converting a penalty in the 83rd minute to score the decisive goal. This outcome means Togo will not participate in a fourth consecutive Africa Cup of Nations, their most recent appearance being at the 2017 competition held in Gabon. Equatorial Guinea’s qualification guarantees them a top-two position in Group E, irrespective of the results from their two remaining fixtures: a home game against already-qualified Algeria on Thursday (13:00 GMT) and an away match in Togo on Sunday. Earlier this year, the team, known as the National Thunder, advanced to the last 16 stage of the 2023 Nations Cup, which took place in Ivory Coast. With this result, the Central Africans become the ninth nation to secure their participation in the tournament in Morocco, joining Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, and Senegal, all of whom had previously confirmed their places during the fourth round of qualifying.