A 1-0 win for Liberia over Togo in Monrovia in group E eliminated both countries and guaranteed Equatorial Guinea progress to the tournament in Morocco, which is to be played from December 21 2025 to January 18 2026.
The top two sides in each of the 12 qualifying groups advance to the finals.
Equatorial Guinea, a surprise package at the last finals, sit on seven points from four matches. Liberia with four points from five games and Togo have two.
Even if Liberia finish with the same points tally as Equatorial Guinea, who host group leaders Algeria on Thursday, they cannot overtake them in the standings because of the head-to-head record between the two.
Equatorial Guinea beat Liberia home and away in October, but on Wednesday substitute Mohammed Sangare, who came through the ranks at Newcastle United but now plays his club football in Switzerland, tucked away an 83rd-minute penalty to ensure Liberia’s first win of the group.
It was also a maiden victory for caretaker coach Thomas Kojo, drafted in last month after Romanian Mario Marinica was fired.
Earlier on Wednesday, Cameroon hung on for a goalless draw away against Namibia in their group J clash played in Johannesburg.