Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast qualified Wednesday for next year’s 24-team tournament despite not playing, and that theme continued Thursday.
Central African Republic had to win Lesotho to put pressure on Gabon in Group B, but a 1-0 defeat in Bloemfontein means the Central African Republic’s wait for a Nations Cup debut will continue for at least another two years.
Congo-Brazzaville He also needed the three points of his trip to South Sudan in Group K, but finished with 10 men after losing 3-2 in Juba.
That result qualified Uganda, the group leader, who will return to the finals for the first time since 2019, and South Africa.
Ali Abdi was the hero of Tunisia against Madagascar in Group A, scoring just four minutes after Wajdi Kechrida was sent off.
The Malagasy had twice come back from a goal down and were eliminated after being denied a point in the final minutes.
Elsewhere, Libya kept their slim Group D chances alive when Fahd Saad Mohamed scored the late winning goal against Rwanda in Malawi.
Benin would have joined Nigeria in the finals with victory in Abidjan, and took the lead at half-time thanks to Mohamed Tijani.
The Cheetahs, formerly known as the Squirrels, had to settle for a draw and must now avoid defeat against Libya on Monday to secure second place in the group.
There are 10 matches scheduled on Friday, in which Botswana, Comoros, Mali, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe have a chance of qualifying.
