AFCON Qualifiers: Botswana Draws with Egypt and Joins Them in the Finals

Egypt drew 1-1 with visiting Botswana on Tuesday, allowing Botswana to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals. This result sent Mauritania’s hopes crashing, as the draw meant that Egypt’s team, coached by Hossam Hassan, could not prevent Botswana from advancing.

With this result, Egypt remained at the top of Group C with 14 points, followed by Botswana with 8 points. Mauritania, with 7 points, failed to qualify despite defeating Cape Verde 1-0. Mauritania needed Egypt to defeat Botswana to progress to second place based on head-to-head results.

Botswana took the lead in the 8th minute due to a defensive mistake by Egypt’s Mohamed Rabia, who mishandled the ball. It reached Omotla Kibafo, who passed it to his teammate Kabelo Sekaning. Sekaning’s initial shot was poor, but Kibafo followed up and scored into the net, despite Egyptian players’ protests for a handball.

Egypt applied pressure and equalized in the 15th minute with a powerful shot from Mahmoud Hassan (Trezeguet) from outside the box, sending the ball into the net past Botswana’s goalkeeper.