So far, four nations have clinched their places in next year’s tournament, including Cameroon, five-time AFCON champions, and Algeria, the 2019 titleholders, both of whom celebrated victories in the qualifying series on Monday.

Also qualified for the AFCON final are Burkina Faso and host nation Morocco.

Burkina Faso became the first team to qualify for the 2025 African Cup of Nations finals, following a 2-0 win in Burundi on Sunday, 13, October.

A goal from Mohamed Konate and Bertrand Traore’s penalty, took the Burkinabe to 10 points from four games in Group L and ensured they will not finish outside the top two.

Senegal are in second place with seven points from three matches and will also qualify if they win away to Malawi on Tuesday. Burundi have three points from four games and Malawi none from three.

Cameroon also defeated Kenya 1-0 when Boris Enow scored the only goal of the game in neutral Kampala, while Ramy Bensebaini netted a first half spot-kick winner for Algeria against Togo in Lome.

Enow drilled a low free kick into the goal from just outside the box as Cameroon dominated the contest and did enough to win in the absence of their federation president Samuel Eto’o, who is serving a six-month stadium ban by world governing body FIFA.

The victory takes Cameroon to 10 points from four games in the pool and ensured they cannot finish outside of the top two, which is enough to secure a place at the 24-team finals.

Algeria on the other hand, have a full haul of 12 points from four games after Bensebaini converted a penalty on 18 minutes to give them lead, but they had to weather heavy pressure from their hosts, who created enough chances to get something from the game.

Zimbabwe moved into a strong position in their pool i Group J with a 3-1 win over Namibia in neutral Johannesburg that leaves them on eight points, four ahead of third-placed Kenya with two rounds to play. 

Walter Musona scored a brace, one a penalty, to go with a strike from Prince Dube as Zimbabwe soared to the top.

Equatorial Guinea are five points clear in second place in their pool after a 2-1 win over Liberia in Monrovia.

Luis Asue had them in front early, but William Gibson equalised for the hosts. Just as it appeared the game would end in a draw, Dorian Hanza netted a 94th minute winner.

Gambia move into second place in their pool, ahead of Comoros on head-to-head record, but having played a game more.

Mozambique moved to the top of Group I with a 3-0 win over Eswatini in Nelspruit, their first goal scored by 40-year-old winger Domingues.

They are five points clear of third-placed Guinea Bissau, who host Mali on Tuesday.