Equatorial Guinea and Liberia Seek Vital AFCON Qualifying Win

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers reach a critical juncture this week as Equatorial Guinea gears up to face Liberia at the Estadio de Bata. Both teams are keen to secure their first win in the 2025 qualifying campaign, having failed to triumph in their initial two fixtures. The match is scheduled for Friday afternoon, presenting each side with a crucial opportunity to kick-start their journey towards continental success.

In their latest outing, Equatorial Guinea faced a dramatic finish against Togo, resulting in a 2-2 draw at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo on September 9. Goals from both teams kept the scoreline tight, but a last-gasp equalizer denied the Nzalang Nacional the three points they desperately sought. Despite a promising start to 2024, with two wins and a draw, Equatorial Guinea has managed only one victory in their last five matches—a narrow 1-0 win over Malawi in World Cup qualifiers in June.

Equatorial Guinea, who made their AFCON debut in 2012, aims to qualify for their third consecutive tournament. They currently sit third in Group E, trailing Togo by one point, while Algeria leads the group with a comfortable four-point cushion at the top. A win against Liberia will significantly enhance Equatorial Guinea’s prospects of progressing further in the competition.

Conversely, Liberia enters this fixture on the back of a 3-0 defeat to group leaders Algeria at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex. The Lone Stars struggled to contend with Algeria’s formidable display, marking their first defeat of the year after a series of five matches that included two wins and three draws across various competitions. Both Liberia and Equatorial Guinea are level on points, making Friday’s encounter in Bata pivotal for maintaining their AFCON aspirations.

Equatorial Guinea will be buoyed by the return of their record appearance maker, while forward , who received the last AFCON Golden Boot, remains sidelined due to a six-month suspension imposed by FIFA. The team is expected to rely on the attacking prowess of . As for Liberia, goalkeeper is available for selection following an injury scare against Algeria, though , who replaced him, will continue to wait for his first starting role this year.

The anticipated lineup for Equatorial Guinea includes Owono, Anieboh, Orozco, Akapo, and Ndong, among others. Meanwhile, Liberia’s likely starting eleven features Koulibaly, Sackor, Kamara, Dorley, and Swen.