JOHANNESBURG: A late equaliser from Victor Osimhen stamped Nigeria’s ticket for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday while Tunisia also booked their place with a 3-2 win over Madagascar.

In spite of not playing on Thursday, other results also saw South Africa, Gabon and Uganda secure places at the 24-nation showcase of African football, which kicks off in Morocco on December 21 next year.

A 1-0 win for Libya away in Rwanda meant Nigeria were guaranteed a top two finish in Group ‘D’ one hour before they kicked off their own match against Benin in Abidjan, but the Super Eagles were then held to a 1-1 draw.

Defender Mohamed Tijani’s 16th minute goal put Benin on course to qualify but they will now have to wait after reigning African Footballer of the Year Osimhen equalised nine minutes from time in Abidjan.

Nigeria top the table with 11 points after five rounds, leaving Benin (seven), Rwanda (five) and Libya (four) to fight for the second qualification place.

Nigeria host Rwanda on Monday at the same time as Libya will have home advantage over Benin. Libya got back into contention by beating Rwanda through a late Fahd Mohamed goal in Kigali.

Tunisia snatched a stoppage time goal from Ali El Abdis diving header to edge Madagascar in neutral Pretoria and make sure they will finish in the top two places in Group ‘A’.

In a seesaw struggle, Madagascar twice equalised before gaining a late second-half advantage when Wajdi Kechrida was red-carded.

But the Indian Ocean islanders fell behind again four minutes later and defeat stretched a winless run in AFCON qualifiers to 15 matches.

Comoros, shock winners over Tunisia last month, will fill the other qualifying place from the section if they beat Gambia.

South Africa and Uganda advanced without kicking a ball and are assured the top two places in Group ‘K’ after Congo Brazzaville lost 3-2 in South Sudan.

Congo, needing maximum points to keep their slim hopes alive, twice surrendered the lead before being reduced to 10 men on 78 minutes when Bryan Passi was sent off.

South Sudan took full advantage of having an extra man to snatch victory soon after through substitute Data Elly in Juba.

Gabon qualified from Group ‘B’ when their closest challengers, the Central African Republic, went down 1-0 to Lesotho. The result confirmed a top two finish for Gabon with two games still to play.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2024