Mohammed Kudus was unable to help Ghana earn the full share of the spoils they needed away at Angola on Friday to prevent them missing out on qualification for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004.
The four-time AFCON champions had registered two draws and two defeats from their opening four Group F fixtures, and knew that only a win at the Estádio Nacional 11 de Novembro in Talatona would be enough to keep their hopes of a top-two finish alive going into the final round.
And though a stunning long-range free-kick from Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew put the Black Stars ahead, and Abdul Manaf Nurudeen saved M’bala Nzola’s penalty to keep it 1-0 before the break, Zine equalised for Angola close to the hour mark, and the match finished as a 1-1 draw.
Despite their fate having been sealed, Kudus - who played for 85 minutes in Angola - and his teammates will attempt to finish qualifying on a high in their final Group F game at home to Niger on Monday 18 November, with kick-off set for 4pm GMT.
Elsewhere in 2025 AFCON qualifying, defender Nayef Aguerd - who is currently on loan at Spanish outfit Real Sociedad - completed the full 90 minutes of Morocco’s comfortable 5-1 win away at Gabon in Group B.
The Atlas Lions - who have already qualified for the finals as the host nation - strengthened their 100 per cent record in qualifying to five wins from five games, with two goals from Brahim Díaz and strikes from Jamal Harkass, Youssef En-Nesyri and Ismael Saibari putting the result beyond doubt.
Morocco are set to wrap up their qualifying campaign at home to Lesotho on Monday 18 November, at 7pm GMT.
Over in Central America, Edson Álvarez and Mexico fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Honduras in the first leg of their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final tie in the early hours of Saturday morning, with the Hammers midfielder playing the full 90 minutes in San Pedro Sula.
Javier Aguirre’s charges - who were runners-up in the competition last time out - will be looking to overturn their deficit and earn a spot at the Nations League Finals when the teams reunite at the Estadio Nemesio Díez in Toluca at 2.30am GMT on Wednesday 20 November.
Also on the senior international scene, young forward Callum Marshall - who is currently on loan at Huddersfield Town in EFL League One - was an unused substitute as Northern Ireland took a big step towards promotion to League B of the UEFA Nations League with a 2-0 home win over Belarus in Group C3.
Daniel Ballard and Dion Charles were both on target for Michael O’Neill’s side at Windsor Park, leaving them top of the ranks and needing just a draw in their final game away at Luxembourg on Monday 18 November (7.45pm GMT) to be sure of an automatic ascension.
George Earthy made his debut for England’s U21s in a goalless friendly draw away at Spain, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute.
The 20-year-old midfielder, currently on loan at Championship side Bristol City, had been promoted to the U21s set-up from the Elite Development Squad earlier in the week, and was duly handed his opportunity by interim head coach Ben Futcher.
Aston Villa’s Jaden Philogene came closest for the Young Lions in a replay of last year’s UEFA EURO Under-21 final, which England won 1-0, and Earthy will now be looking to add to his gametime next time out against the Netherlands at 5.45pm GMT on Monday 18 November in Almere.
Kaelan Casey played a prominent role as England’s Elite Development Squad thrashed Germany 4-0 to claim their fourth victory in the U20 Euro Elite League.
The 20-year-old defender completed 82 minutes of the thrilling contest in Chesterfield, that saw goals from Romain Esse, Max Dean, Sydie Peck and Will Lankshear maintain the Young Lions’ position at the top of the Elite League ranks after five games. They next take on Poland at 4pm GMT on Tuesday 19 November.
Meanwhile, Academy starlet Emeka Adiele played the last 21 minutes of England U18s’ 3-1 defeat to Poland in Spain, while Lanre Awesu and Chinaza Nwosu both came on as second-half substitutes in England U17s’ 1-1 draw with Belgium in Tubize.
Adiele and the U18s will next take on Germany on Monday 18 November, while Awesu and Nwosu will be hoping for more gametime with the U17s back up against Belgium on the same day.
