November 17, (THEWILL) – Guinea moved within touching distance of Africa Cup of Nations qualification following a dramatic 1-0 victory against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Abidjan.
Serhou Guirassy’s stoppage-time strike maintained Guinea’s second position in Group H, leaving them requiring just one point from their final match against Tanzania.
The crucial encounter saw both teams creating opportunities throughout, but it was the Borussia Dortmund forward who made the difference in additional time.
This result positions Guinea with nine points, two ahead of Tanzania, who earlier defeated Ethiopia 2-0 through goals from Simon Msuva and Feisul Salum.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, despite this defeat, had previously confirmed their qualification for the tournament in Morocco.
Ethiopia’s elimination from contention was confirmed following their loss, while both they and Guinea continue to play their home fixtures at neutral venues due to stadium inadequacies.
The qualification phase enters its final stage with matches scheduled from Sunday through Tuesday, as five positions remain available in the 24-team tournament. The competition will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, featuring the top two teams from each of the 12 qualifying groups.
Several crucial matches remain, including Libya’s opportunity to progress from Group D if they overcome Benin. Additionally, Sudan requires a single point against Angola in Group F, while Guinea Bissau and Mozambique will contest a direct qualification battle in Group I, with the victor joining Mali in advancing to the finals.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
