Angola Defeat Niger to Strengthen Grip on Group F, Edge Closer to AFCON 2025 Qualification
The Palancas Negras of Angola continued their impressive AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Niger in Luanda, solidifying their position at the top of Group F.
Angola has now opened up a seven-point lead over Ghana, who lie in third place with just two points, leaving them in pole position for qualification to the next Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Niger put up a strong fight for much of the match, frustrating the Angolan attack and holding firm for the majority of the game.
However, their resilience was finally broken in the 70th minute when a Niger defender handled the ball inside the box, resulting in a penalty. Mabululu stepped up to calmly slot home from the spot, giving the home side a crucial breakthrough.
Angola doubled their lead late in the game when Milson ran past the Niger defense and unleashed a powerful strike that took a slight deflection before finding the back of the net, securing all three points for the hosts.
With this result, Angola now find themselves on the brink of qualification for AFCON 2025. All they need is one more win to secure their place in Morocco, marking a potential return to the continental showpiece for the Palancas Negras side who made the quarter finals in the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.
For Niger, the loss leaves them rooted to the bottom of the group, while Ghana’s chances of qualification hang by a thread as they struggle to close the gap on Angola and Sudan. The pressure now shifts to the remaining matches as the race for AFCON 2025 qualification intensifies.