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Ed Dove
The Ivory Coast, defending champions of the Africa Cup of Nations, staged an impressive comeback from a two-goal deficit to defeat Gabon 3-2 in their final Group F match in Marrakesh on Wednesday. This victory secures their place as group winners and sets up a round of 16 match against Burkina Faso.
In Agadir, Cameroon came from behind to win 2-1 against Mozambique, thanks to a second-half goal from Christian Kofane. The Cameroonians will now advance to face South Africa, while Mozambique, finishing third, will confront Nigeria on January 5 in Fes.
In Marrakesh, Gabon, already eliminated after losing their first matches, surprisingly surged ahead 2-0 against Ivory Coast within 21 minutes.
Veteran Guélor Kanga took advantage of a mistake by Alban Lafont to score the opener in the 11th minute, and Denis Bouanga doubled their lead shortly after.
However, the Ivorian team showcased the tenacity that led to their unexpected championship win in 2024, coming back to reduce the deficit with a goal from Jean-Philippe Krasso just before halftime, following a smooth exchange between Jean Michaël Seri and Wilfried Zaha.
Evan Guessand equalized in the 84th minute, dashing Gabonese hopes for revenge after their prior elimination by the Ivorians in World Cup qualifying. A last-minute header from Bazoumana Touré clinched the victory for Ivory Coast, ensuring their spot at the top of the group.
This win extends the Ivorians’ unbeaten streak to 14 matches, building momentum as they aim for their fourth continental title.
The Ivorians will face Burkina Faso in Marrakesh on January 6, while Gabon exits the tournament without earning a single point from their three matches.
Meanwhile, in Agadir, Cameroon found themselves trailing 1-0 when Geny Catamo scored a stunning goal from outside the box in the 23rd minute.
Cameroon equalized soon after, with Nené inadvertently scoring an own goal following a shot from Frank Magri that hit the post. Kofane then secured the win with a spectacular long-range shot that hit the crossbar and crossed the line.
With seven points from their group stage matches, Cameroon navigated a challenging tournament despite a chaotic lead-up marked by the dismissal of their former head coach just weeks before the tournament. They are now poised to take on South Africa in Rabat on January 4.
Earlier in the day, Algeria capped off their group stage with an impressive 3-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea. Already qualified as group winners, Algeria, along with Nigeria, remains the only team in the tournament with a perfect record after scoring three goals in the first 32 minutes. Emilio Nsue pulled one back for Equatorial Guinea, but they were unable to mount a comeback.
Algeria’s head coach Vladimir Petkovic remarked on the mix of youthful talent in the team, noting, “We had seven players born after the 2000s, which is an encouraging sign for the future.” He acknowledged the quality of Equatorial Guinea’s consolation goal.
In Casablanca, Burkina Faso secured a 2-0 victory over Sudan, with goals from Lassina Traoré and Arsène Kouassi.
Both teams progress, with Burkina Faso facing Ivory Coast and Sudan matched up against Senegal in Tangier on January 3. Burkina Faso’s head coach Brama Toure expressed optimism for their campaign, stating, “Our players are determined to stand out and achieve success in this edition of the Nations Cup.”
Algeria will meet the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat on January 6 in one of the standout fixtures of the next round.