AFCON 2025: Early departures and disappointments
The AFCON now enters a more decisive phase with direct elimination at the corner. We take a look at some of the major disappointments in the group stage. Before the start of direct elimination matches this Saturday, Sport News Africa releases the cards for the countries that have disappointed and reviews all the eliminated.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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Gabon
Two months ago, no one would have imagined such an early elimination of Gabon at the AFCON 2025. After a seductive qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup during which they held off Côte d'Ivoire before finishing second in Group F behind the Elephants and falling in the semi-finals of the African qualifiers against Nigeria. Gabon has completely been a shadow in Morocco.
The Panthers lost 3 in 3 matches, their worst performance since the Africa Cup of Nations went to 16 teams. It is also the first time they have finished with zero points in group stage since their first participation in 1994. A shameful performance that pushed the government to dissolve Thierry Mouyouma’s staff and suspend the national team at the dawn of the new year. Gabon was the biggest disappointment in this first round.
Comoros
For a country that finished at the top of its group ahead of Tunisia by achieving the best elimination phase in its history, we had the right to dream better than a premature finish in the first round for the Comoros. But the Cœlacanthes, led by Stefano Cusin, did not manage to capitalize on their good performance against Morocco, despite the defeat (0-2) in the opening match. Neither wins against Zambia (0-0) nor against Mali (0-0) and they are eliminated in the group stage with two points.
Angola
The Palancas Negras also disappointed during this first round of the AFCON 2025. After a defeat (1-2) in their first outing against South Africa, Patrice Beaumelle’s Angola did not reassure during the second day by conceding a draw against Zimbabwe (1-1). The second (0-0) against Egypt was not enough for Gelson Dala and his teammates. Quarter-finalist of the last edition, it is a big disappointment for Angola to exit in the first round of the next one.
Equatorial Guinea
Eighth finalist of the 2023 AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire with the top scorer of the competition, Emilio Nsue, in his squad, Equatorial Guinea was still expected in Morocco to create surprise and spoil the day. But in a Group E yet within their reach, with Algeria, Burkina Faso and Sudan, the Equatorial Guineans have completely capsized in the Atlas.
Against Burkina Faso for their first match, Equatorial Guinea were leading until the end of regulation time. But she sank into overtime, conceding two goals to lose (2-1) a match he could have won with better management. The Nzalang Nacional then bowed to Sudan (0-1) by sabotaging themselves there too with an own goal from Saul Coco, thus confirming their elimination at the end of the second day. Algeria gave them a lesson for their last outing (3-1). The extra sports problems after the 2023 edition will have broken the dynamics of the team trained by Juan Micha.
All countries already eliminated from group stage
Comoros
Zambia
Angola
Zimbabwe
Uganda
Botswana
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon