Equatorial Guinea successfully secured a spot in the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations after holding group leaders Algeria to a goalless draw in their Thursday qualifier.
The hard-fought match, held at Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, saw the hosts defend their way to a valuable 0-0 outcome, clinching second place in Group E and booking their third consecutive trip to Africa’s top football tournament, set to take place in Morocco.
Algeria, already at the top of Group E with 13 points, went into the game looking to solidify their lead, with Riyad Mahrez leading an attacking line that included strong performances from Mohammed Amoura and Ramiz Zerrouki.
However, Equatorial Guinea’s defensive line, led by Basilio Ndong and Marvin Anieboh, remained resilient, frustrating the Algerian offense at every turn.
Despite several promising chances on both sides, both teams struggled to capitalize.
Equatorial Guinea posed a few threats of their own, with Pedro Obiang and Luís Asué attempting to test Algeria’s defense, though Algeria’s goalkeeper remained a steadfast barrier.
Substitutions from both coaches injected energy into the game, but neither side could find the breakthrough goal.
With this result, Algeria retains the top spot in Group E, five points ahead of Equatorial Guinea, who finish with 8 points.
Liberia, with four points, and Togo, at the bottom of the group, are now out of the running for qualification.
