The Ivory Coast began their defense of the Africa Cup of Nations title with a 2-0 victory over Zambia, thanks to two late goals from substitute Jean-Philippe Krasso. They are expected to be strong contenders in Group G for a spot in the 2025 finals, which will be hosted by Morocco. In other matches, Morocco defeated Gabon 4-1, with Hakim Ziyech scoring two penalties, while Egypt triumphed 3-0 against Cape Verde. Senegal, however, drew 1-1 with Burkina Faso after conceding a late equalizer following an early goal by Sadio Mane. The Democratic Republic of Congo also secured a narrow 1-0 win over Guinea. This opening round of qualifiers showcased competitive performances from several top African teams.