AFCON 2025: Full Breakdown of All Matchday One Games
||By Christopher Ayeni
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco got underway on the 21st of December, with a series of competitive group stage matches as teams fought for early points. Round one delivered key wins, important draws and some disappointing outings across all groups, setting the tone for the tournament.
Group A
Morocco, been the host nation, set the ball rolling with a dominant display against the Coelacanths of Comoros on the 21st of December.
Despite a good penalty save from Yannick Pandor in the 11th minute, they could not hold on to the pressure of the Moroccans, as Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, before substitute Ayoub El Kaabi doubled their lead in the 74th minute with a superb bicycle kick, ensuring the hosts have a good first game.
In the other match, the Eagles of Mali played out a 1-all draw with the Chipolopolo of Zambia. El Bilal Toure had lost the chance to put the Malians in front from the spot kick before Lassine Sinayoko broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. It looked set for them to take all 3 points, before Leicester City’s Patson Daka grabbed the equaliser for the Chipolopolo of Zambia in the second minute of added time, ensuring the match ended in a stalemate.
Group B
One-time champion of AFCON, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa edged Angola by 2 goals to 1. It took Orlando Pirates’ Oswin Appollis 21 minutes to put the Bafana Bafana upfront, before Show grabbed the equaliser for the Palancas Negras of Angola in the 35th minute. South Africa took the lead again through Tshepang Moremi in the 51st minute, but had the goal disallowed due to the offside rule. Then in the 79th minute, Burnley’s Lyle Foster, who had initiated provided the assist for the first goal, sealed South Africa’s opening match with a brilliant strike, ensuring they took all 3 points.
In the other match, the Pharaohs of Egypt had to come from behind against Zimbabwe to earn all 3 points. Prince Dube had put the Worriors of Zimbabwe ahead in the 20th minute, before a brilliant and solo effort from Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush drew the Pharaohs back to level terms. Despite the dominance of the Egyptians, they were dragged into the final stages of the nail-biting encounter before Mohammed Salah grabbed an added time winner.
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Group C
Tunisia had a fantastic time out with Uganda, with a dominant 3-1 display. Ellyes Skhiri scored first before Elias Achouri’s brace sealed it all. Denis Omedi had a late consolation goal for Uganda, but was too little to pulled them back into the game.
Last year’s runner up, the super Eagles of Nigeria, in what many have described as an unimpressive performance, recorded a 2-1 win over Tanzania. A solid header from Semi Ajayi in the 36th minute was enough to seal half time win for the Super Eagles, before Charles M’Mombwa equalised for Tanzania in the 50th minute. It then took Ademola Lookman just 2 minutes later to restore the lead of the super Eagles, and that was enough to seal all 3 points for Eric Chelle’s boys.
Group D
2021 champions, Senegal got all 3 points against Botswana in a one-sided affair. A brace from Bayern Munich’s loanee, Nicolas Jackson and Cherif Ndiaye’s 90th minute goal sealed it for the former champions.
In a tight affair, a lone goal from Theo Bongondu in the 16th minute was enough to earn DR Congo all 3 points against Benin.
Group E
A brace from Riyad Mahrez and Ibrahim Maza, was enough to seal all 3 points for the 2019 champions, Algeria, gainst Sudan.
Franck Traore broke the deadlock for Burkina Faso in the 71st minute, but was ruled out for offside. Marvin Anieboh scored for Equatorial Guinea in the 85th minute, in what seemed like a match-winning goal, before 2 added time goals from Georgi Minoungou and Edmond Tabsoba changed the game in favour of Burkina Faso.
Group F
Current champion, Ivory Coast and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon both recorded a 1-0 win over Mozambique and Gabon, with goals from Manchester United’s Amad Diallo in the 49th minute and Etta Eyong in the 6th minute, respectively.
Round one results in full:
Morocco 2—0 Comoros
Mali 1—1 Zambia
South Africa 2—1 Angola
Egypt 2—1 Zimbabwe
DR Congo 1—0 Benin
Senegal 3—0 Botswana
Tunisia 3—1 Uganda
Nigeria 2—1 Tanzania
Ivory Coast 1—0 Mozambique
Burkina Faso 2—1 Equatorial Guinea
Algeria 3—0 Sudan
Cameroon 1—0 Gabon
The major talking point after round one of AFCON 2025 however, has been the 3-time champion; the Super Eagles of Nigeria. While some have praised the performance of the team against Tanzania, others have had to question the tactical set-up of Coach Eric Chelle. After a disappointing World Cup qualifiers outing against DR Congo, Nigerians can only hope to be compensated with the Super Eagles lifting the trophy for the fourth time in Morocco.
Match week two fixtures are set to hit our screens starting from the 26th of December, and once again, all attention would be turned to the Super Eagles of Nigeria when they take on Tunisia on the 27th, by 9 pm.
