2025 AFCON Wrap: Ivory Coast sink Gabon at the death to avoid date with Bafana Bafana as Cameroon labour to a narrow victory over an inspired Mozambique

The defending Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions, Ivory Coast, recovered from a two-goal deficit to overcome Gabon in a five-goal thriller on Wednesday night.

Gabon took the lead in the 11th minute through Guelor Kanga before Denis Bouanga made it 2-0, 10 minutes later, owing to poor defending by the Elephants.

In the stroke of half-time, former Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha teed up Jean-Philippe Krasso, who did well to make it 2-1.

Christopher Operi then assisted Evann Guessand, who found the back of the net to make it 2-2, before the former, once again, assisted Bazoumana Toure in the stoppages for the winner.

The result ensured Ivory Coast topped Group F and will now face Burkina Faso in the Last 16 as Gabon crashed out without having claimed a single point. 

The Indomitable Lions managed to get past the Flames of Mozambique to finish second in Group F to set up a date with Bafana Bafana in the Last 16.

The Flames, where former Kaizer Chiefs defender Edmilson Dove plays, took the lead in the 23rd minute when Geny Catamo converted Nanani's pass.

Five minutes later, the Cameroonians were on level terms as Nene put the ball in his own net as he desperately attempted to clear it.

In the 55th minute, 19-year-old Christian Kofane scored a beauty to ensure his nation claimed maximum points, but it was not enough to see them finish at the summit. 

Mozambique finished among the best three third-placed teams and will now play Nigeria in the last 16.

Algeria, Mozambique, South Africa, Tunisia, Egypt, Tunisia, Benin, Senegal, Cameroon, Sudan, Tanzania, DR Congo, Morocco, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon managed to get into the next phase of the biennial competition.

Have a look at the fixtures for the forthcoming knockout phase.

Mali vs Tunisia

Senegal vs Sudan

Egypt vs Benin

Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso

South Africa vs Cameroon

Morocco vs Tanzania

Algeria vs DR Congo

Nigeria vs Mozambique

Broos compared his achievements with South Africa to his 2017 AFCON win with Cameroon.

“You know, when I’m honest, I think what we did with South Africa was better than what I did with Cameroon... So what we did here for me, I am more than happy with the work I did here than with the work I did with Cameroon, because you can expect that from Cameroon when you go to AFCON," the 73-year-old said.

"But I don’t think that everyone here in the room, and even I, expected two years ago that we should play the semi-finals. So yeah, it was a great campaign, and it’s still not finished, not at all. So, we will see now in two weeks, and then again, I will try to end my career with a fantastic performance in America, Oh, no, in Mexico now it’s not America anymore. Yeah, it’s very nice for me, really.”

Broos also stressed that Bafana need to concentrate during matches ahead of the potential knockout match against Cameroon or Ivory Coast.

“Even in the first half against Egypt, we were soft and weak, we were not determined in duels, and there was no aggression... We started with aggression in the first 20 minutes against Zimbabwe, but we took the foot off the pedal and gave the opportunity to the opponent to get back in the game," the former Anderlecht and Club Brugge coach said.

"We must learn to have concentration because it is either Ivory Coast or Cameroon in the next round, and we can’t play like that against them. If we do that, we have no chance to win that game.”