Bafana Bafana qualifies for 2025 AFCON without needing to compete in their scheduled match against Uganda on November 15, 2024 all thanks to South Sudans victory over Congo.
South Africa's national soccer team Bafana Bafana has successfully made it to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) without playing their designated match.
This achievement was possible due to Congo's loss to South Sudan in another game which propelled South Africa to secure the points needed for qualification in their group.
During the AFCON qualifiers competition process teams are typically grouped together. The performing teams from each group earn a spot in the tournament.
To illustrate with an example involving Bafana Bafana, If they were ahead in points or had accumulated points so that another team's victory or draw in their group could definitively secure their position in the standings they might secure qualification without having to contest their final scheduled match.
If Congo were to be defeated by South Sudan in a game that it eliminated Congo from the running for qualification purposes only to secure South Africa's unassailable lead in the group standings.
South Sudan's victory against Congo ensured Bafana Bafana advancement to the next stage. Demonstrated how outcomes in other matches within the group influenced South Africas position in the competition.
Essentially speaking mathematical combinations involving points and goals variations and outcomes of games within the same bracket could result in a team advancing to the next stage without having to compete in their final match especially if another games result guarantees their progress directly.