Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon have been eliminated from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a tough group-stage run left all three with zero points.
Even with one game left this week, the trio cannot reach the Round of 16.
Botswana, back at AFCON for the first time since 2012, started badly with a 3-0 loss to Senegal and a 1-0 defeat to Benin. With Senegal and DR Congo ahead, Botswana cannot catch up, even with a win against DR Congo on Tuesday.
Equatorial Guinea, which had reached the knockout stages in the last three tournaments, fell 2-1 to Burkina Faso and 1-0 to Sudan, dropping them to the bottom of Group E. Algeria leads the group.
Gabon also exited after a 3-2 loss to Mozambique. Star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored, but the team could not stop Mozambique, who notched their first-ever AFCON win. Gabon stays at the bottom of Group F after a 1-1 draw between Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire.
The three teams will play their last matches for pride.
