At least three nations have faced early elimination from the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco following a series of disappointing results in the opening rounds. Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon have all failed to secure a single point from their initial fixtures, effectively ending their hopes of progressing to the knockout phase. Despite having one final group match remaining on the schedule this week, these teams will depart the tournament regardless of their upcoming performances.
In Group D, Botswana sits at the bottom of the table after suffering back-to-back defeats. The Zebras opened their campaign with a 3–0 loss to Senegal and followed it with a narrow 1–0 defeat against the Benin Republic. Although they still face DR Congo this Tuesday, results from other matches within their group have already mathematically sealed their exit from the competition.
Equatorial Guinea shares a similar fate in Group E after failing to capitalize on their opportunities. They began their journey with a 2–1 loss to Burkina Faso and subsequently fell 1–0 to Sudan. These consecutive failures leave them without any points heading into their final match, ensuring their elimination before the round of 16.
Gabon also joins the list of early casualties following two straight losses in Group F. Their tournament started with a 1–0 defeat at the hands of Cameroon, which they followed with a high-scoring 3–2 loss against Mozambique. Currently rooted to the bottom of their group, Gabon can no longer qualify for the next stage. They will play their final fixture against Ivory Coast this Wednesday, looking only to salvage pride before their departure from Morocco.
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