The results of the second round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations currently taking place in Morocco showed a definitive qualification for some teams, anticipated fiery matchups, and unexpected results. The second round also confirmed the difficulty of competition and the intensity that characterizes the matches of this continental championship compared to others.
The Egyptian national team, led by their star Mohamed Salah, continued their impressive path by achieving their second consecutive victory, securing a ticket to the round of 16. Thanks to their defensive solidity and offensive effectiveness at crucial moments, the “Pharaohs” once again relied on their top star Mohamed Salah, who succeeded in scoring the only goal of the match against South Africa from the penalty spot.
Similarly, the Algerian national team performed well in their second match, where the “Desert Foxes” managed to handle the pressure of the match and secure a victory over Burkina Faso, thereby ensuring an early qualification to the knockout stage.
Riyad Mahrez played a crucial role, as he successfully converted the only penalty into a qualifying goal, before leaving the field after an hour of play.
The Nigerian team caught attention with their strong and exciting performance, allowing the “Super Eagles” to secure their passage to the round of 16 thanks to the strength of their attacking elements and their clear mental toughness, affirming their great ambitions in this edition of the tournament.
With a fiery attack led by the outstanding Victor Osimhen, along with Ademola Lookman, the runner-up from the 2023 edition sent a clear message that they would be a serious contender not to be overlooked until the end of the competition.
Host team Morocco settled for a draw against their Malian counterpart (1-1), a result that kept the door to qualification wide open within the group, with nothing decided yet, as a fiery third round is anticipated.
The Moroccan team still holds the reins of its destiny and will need to settle matters against Zambia to confirm its ambitions and standing in this edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
After missing the first two matches, Achraf Hakimi will return to the ranks of the “Atlas Lions,” with national coach Walid Regragui stating that the Ballon d’Or winner will participate in the match against Mali, in a significant boost to the Moroccan team’s aspirations.
In what is known as the “Group of Death,” the match between the Ivory Coast and Cameroon ended in a draw (1-1), in a strong and exciting encounter. This result left the qualification calculations suspended, forcing the two African giants to enter the final round with a single ambition: to achieve victory.
The second round will remain memorable, particularly due to the achievement of the Mozambique national team, which achieved a historic victory over Gabon, marking its first win in the history of its participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. This victory revived the hopes of the “Black Mambas” in the qualification race, reaffirming once again that the “AFCON” remains a tournament open to all possibilities.
Moreover, the Benin national team recorded its first win in the history of its participation in the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations, after five previous appearances. This victory carries great symbolic significance, as it came as a result of collective discipline and a high fighting spirit, affirming that the “Panthers” have entered a new phase and are no longer just passing guests in African football.
Additionally, Sudan’s victory over Equatorial Guinea marked another highlight, as it shifted the balance of the group and restored hope for a team that was not expected to go far in this tournament.
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