August 24, (THEWILL) – Congo’s national football team will play their opening qualifier for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at home against South Sudan on Thursday, September 5, after the stadium ban on Brazzaville was lifted.
The venue had previously failed a stadium inspection by the Confederation of African Football, but recent upgrades have made it suitable for use. This marks Congo’s return to playing in front of home fans after forfeiting a World Cup qualifier in June and facing a 6-0 defeat to Morocco in an away match.
Libya will use the stadium in Tripoli for the first time in 10 years when they host Rwanda on Wednesday, September 4, following major renovations. However, the Comoros Islands have lost their right to hold home games in Moroni due to substandard stadium conditions. They will now play their Group A match against the Gambia in El Jadida, Morocco. The Comoros are among 18 countries banned from using their home venues because they do not meet the required standards.
Kenya, set to co-host the 2027 Cup of Nations finals, currently has both the Nyayo National Stadium and the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani closed for renovations. Consequently, the Harambee Stars will play their third consecutive home match away from Kenya, facing Zimbabwe in Kampala. Zimbabwe, also lacking a suitable home venue, will remain in Kampala for their second game against Cameroon on Tuesday, September 10.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will begin on Wednesday, September 4, with matches scheduled across various locations until Tuesday, September 10. Many teams will be playing their home games in neutral venues due to stadium restrictions or ongoing renovations. The qualifiers feature teams from across the continent competing for spots in the tournament.
These developments underscore the ongoing challenges many African nations face in maintaining football infrastructure that meets international standards. While some countries like Congo and Libya have made progress in upgrading their facilities, others continue to struggle, impacting their ability to host home matches and potentially affecting their performance in important qualifying tournaments.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
