World Cup bound, but absent from AFCON: the curious case of two teams | OneFootball

Qualified for the World Cup, but not for the CAN: spot the error!

It's a situation as rare as it is astonishing: Cape Verde and Ghana will see the 2026 World Cup, but not the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Two nations qualified for the world's biggest tournament, yet unable to secure their ticket for the continental competition. This contrast symbolizes the delightful unpredictability of African football.

The Blue Sharks and the Black Stars shone throughout the World Cup qualifiers, where consistency and collective strength are rewarded.

However, in a shorter format like the CAN qualifiers, the slightest mistake is costly. Injuries, travel, a packed schedule: all factors that can tip a campaign. Ghana and Cape Verde finished at the bottom of their CAN qualification group.

Absent from the CAN but present at the World Cup, these two scenarios symbolize both the richness and complexity of football on the continent: capable of anything, except being confined to logic.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

📸 KHALED DESOUKI - KHALED DESOUKI