The contest was defined by rapid momentum shifts and individual brilliance. Botswana struck first in the 37th minute when Thatayaone Kgamanyane found the net to give the Zebras the lead. However, the home side responded with urgency, with Hazem Mastouri emerging as the pivotal figure for the Eagles of Carthage. Mastouri scored twice, once immediately before halftime and again shortly after the restart, to swing the momentum entirely in favor of the hosts. Botswana, however, refused to capitulate. In the 60th minute, Lebogang Ditsele equalized, ensuring that the visitors left Rades with a valuable point.
This result leaves both Tunisia and Botswana on two points from two matches. Tunisia’s campaign has been marked by consistency rather than outright dominance, having previously drawn 1-1 with co-hosts Uganda. Similarly, Botswana matched their point total after a 2-2 draw with Libya in their opening fixture. The stakes in Group H are heightened by the presence of Uganda, who are already assured of a place in the AFCON 2027 finals as one of the three co-hosts alongside Kenya and Tanzania. Consequently, only the highest-placed team in the group outside of Uganda will qualify, making every point collected during the six-match campaign decisive for the top spot.
Other Matchday 2 Results Shape Groups E and F
While the Group H draw captured attention, other fixtures across the continent produced significant developments in the standings. In Group E, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) extended their perfect start to six points from two matches, securing a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe in Harare. Yoane Wissa was instrumental in the win, scoring one goal and providing an assist for Samuel Moutoussamy. Zimbabwe’s Marshall Munetsi pulled one back for the hosts late in the game, but it was not enough to prevent the visitors from maintaining top spot.
Also in Group E, Equatorial Guinea secured their first victory of the qualifiers with a 1-0 win over Sierra Leone. The match was played in neutral Yaounde, where Loren Zuniga scored the decisive goal inside the opening minute. The result places DR Congo at the top with six points, followed by Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea with three points each, while Sierra Leone remain without a point from their first two attempts.
In Group F, Burkina Faso moved up the table with a 1-0 win over the Central African Republic in Casablanca. The victory was sealed by a goal from teenager Aboubacar Camara in the 60th minute, a notable performance in only his second senior international appearance. Burkina Faso now sit on four points. The group’s standings will be further clarified on Tuesday when Mauritania, currently on three points, host Benin, who have one point, in Abidjan.
As the qualifiers progress, the competition for the remaining continental spots tightens. The narrow margins in Group H and the tight clustering in Groups E and F suggest that consistency will be the defining factor in the upcoming fixtures. With Uganda already guaranteed advancement, the focus shifts to the battle for the single remaining berth in Group H, a contest that will likely hinge on the next few head-to-head encounters between Tunisia and Botswana.
The next scheduled fixture in Group H sees Uganda and Libya meet on Tuesday, a match that, while not affecting qualification directly for the co-hosts, could influence the overall goals difference and competitive dynamics of the group table.
