Ivory Coast, already qualified and largely overhauled, snatched a 3-2 victory in added time against Gabon in the last group match of CAN-2025 on Wednesday in Marrakech, where they will meet Burkina Faso in the round of 16.
A wind of madness hit the Grand Stade de Marrakech when Bazoumana Touré, while the announcer had just announced five minutes of extra play, headed the third Ivorian goal, thus giving the Elephants the advantage for the first time in the match (3-2, 90+1). The goal of the young 19-year-old Hoffenheim striker, who came into play in place of his captain Franck Kessié, changed the course of a completely crazy evening at the end and propelled Côte d’Ivoire to the top of their group, which oscillated for 90 minutes between second and third place depending on the evolution of the score in the other meeting between Cameroon and Mozambique.
The entire Ivorian group fell on their hero of the evening and the public won over to their cause exploded: the title holders will stay in Marrakech for a few more days and will host Burkina Faso, second in group E, for the round of 16 on Tuesday. Burkina will arrive there weakened: during the day, their goalkeeper Hervé Koffi, among the best in the tournament, injured in the right thigh, was unable to finish the match against Sudan (2-0).
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How hard it was for Ivory Coast: Gabon, already eliminated and without its star Pierre-Emeric Aubameyang, slightly injured in the thigh and returned to be treated in Marseille, was determined not to finish this CAN-2025 fanny. Defeated against Cameroon 1-0 and especially against Mozambique 3-2, the Panthers took control of the match from the 11th minute.
They took advantage of a blunder by Alban Lafont, starting instead of Yahia Fofana in goal, who released a shot from Teddy Averlant that Guelor Kanga took to easily open the score (1-0, 11th). Ten minutes later, the former Nantes goalkeeper, now at Panathinaikos in Greece, feverish throughout the match, was beaten a second time by a strike from the edge of the area from Denis Bouanga (2-0, 21st).
Cold snap before heat snap
At the same time, Mozambique, in Agadir, opened the scoring against Cameroon, thus virtually overtaking the two favorites of group F. At this precise moment, the Ivorian holder, 3rd, should have gone to challenge the Nigeria of Victor Osimhen, scarecrow of the group phase, Monday in Fez.
But Cameroon in the other match quickly equalized to regain the lead of the group, relegating Mozambique to 3rd place. Ivory Coast especially put its game in order, monopolized the ball and reduced the score just before half-time by Jean-Philippe Krasso after a pass from Wilfried Zaha (2-1, 44th).
The Elephants continued their momentum in the second half by sieging the goal of François Bekale, the Gabonese goalkeeper, helped by the return of their young duo on the right side, Guela Doué-Amad Diallo (76th), darlings of the Ivorian supporters. And their efforts were rewarded after a header from Evann Guessand receiving a corner from Christopher Opéri (2-2, 84th). Before madness descends on Marrakech.
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The resurrected Cameroon won 2-1 against Mozambique but finished 2nd on goal difference. He will challenge South Africa on Sunday in Rabat. Mozambique will have a hard time facing Nigeria on Monday in Fez for the first CAN final round of 16 in its history.
