AFCON 2025 and World Cup Qualifiers: Key Matches and Player Performances

The race to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2026 World Cup saw significant progress this week, with several national teams and players making headlines across international football matches.

In Africa, Cameroon secured their spot at the AFCON 2025 after a narrow 1-0 victory against Kenya. This result was celebrated widely, including by Brentford FC, highlighting the achievements of their players involved in the qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) also booked their place in the tournament after defeating Tanzania 2-0, thanks to two late goals from Meschak Ella. The team managed to secure their position in the competition, which will be hosted by Morocco, starting in December 2025.

Rayan Ait-Nouri and Algeria joined the qualified teams with a 1-0 win over Togo. Algeria maintained an unbeaten streak in the qualifiers, backed by Ramy Bensebaini’s early penalty. The team’s defensive strength ensured their tickets to Morocco for the tournament.

In Europe, Kevin Schade represented Germany in their Nations League match against the Netherlands, which ended in a 1-0 victory for Germany. Schade’s contribution off the bench helped secure the win against a team for which Mark Flekken remained an unused substitute.

Elsewhere, Iceland and Turkey faced off, with Turkey emerging victorious with a 4-2 win. Hákon Valdimarsson, the Icelandic goalkeeper, played the entire match but could not prevent the defeat.

Ethan Pinnock made a significant impact in Jamaica’s clean sheet against Honduras in the CONCACAF Nations League, following their previous 2-0 win over Nicaragua.

In South America, Uruguay and Brazil were in action for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Uruguay, with Santi Bueno‘s defensive prowess, drew 0-0 with Ecuador, maintaining their third place in the table. Brazil managed an impressive 4-0 victory over Peru, with Andre making a brief appearance as a substitute.

Wolves players were also notable across these international matches. Mario Lemina continued to lead Gabon, achieving a 2-0 win against Lesotho. The team remains second in their group, following host Morocco, and eagerly awaits their upcoming matches in November.

In Portugal’s U21 Euro qualification, Rodrigo Gomes and Carlos Forbs contributed to a 2-1 victory over Andorra, ensuring Portugal’s place in the next summer’s U21 Euros.