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AFCON 2025: Ivory Coast, Cameroon renew AFCON rivalry as Gabon face Mozambique
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 28.12.25. | 09:35
This will be the ninth AFCON meeting between Ivory Coast and Cameroon, the joint second-most meetings between any two nations at the finals
Group F action at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues on Sunday, 28 December, with two decisive fixtures, as continental giants Ivory Coast and Cameroon headline the programme, while Gabon face Mozambique earlier in the day.
Giants face off in Marrakech
African heavyweights Ivory Coast and Cameroon will renew their long-standing AFCON rivalry when they meet in their second Group F fixture at the Marrakech Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 11:00 PM (EAT).
The two teams started the campaign with wins in their opening duels. Cameroon overcame Gabon 1-0, while Ivory Coast beat Mozambique by a similar scoreline.
Winners of two of the last three AFCON titles, the two nations have met eight times previously at the AFCON finals, with Cameroon holding the historical advantage.
The Indomitable Lions have recorded five victories, while the Ivory Coast have managed just one win in open play, with their other two successes coming via penalty shoot-outs.
Their most recent AFCON meeting came in 2015, when Ivory Coast secured a 1-0 group-stage victory, eliminating Cameroon. Max Gradel’s 35th-minute strike proved decisive, as the Elephants went on to lift the trophy.
Five of their eight AFCON meetings have taken place at the group stage (1970, 1984, 2000, 2002 and 2015). Cameroon dominated the early encounters, winning the first four, including 3-0 and 1-0 victories in 2000 and 2002 on their way to AFCON glory. Ivory Coast finally broke that sequence with their 2015 success.
Cameroon’s defensive record against Ivory Coast at AFCON is formidable. They have kept five clean sheets across the eight meetings, conceding only three times. Ivory Coast have scored four goals, while Cameroon have netted 11.
The rivalry has also produced dramatic knockout encounters. The 1992 semi-final ended goalless before Ivory Coast advanced on penalties en route to their maiden AFCON title.
In the 2006 quarter-final, the sides drew 1-1 after extra time, with Ivory Coast winning a remarkable 12-11 penalty shoot-out, during which Samuel Eto’o was the only player to miss.
Current Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fae featured in that encounter and converted his spot-kick.
When the two teams have been drawn in the same AFCON group, history suggests only one progresses. Ivory Coast advanced in 1970 and 2015, while Cameroon went through in 1984, 2000 and 2002.
Overall, Ivory Coast and Cameroon have met 21 times in all competitions, with each side winning eight matches, while five encounters ended in draws.
Their most recent competitive meetings came during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, with each side winning at home.
Ivory Coast claimed a 2-1 victory in Abidjan through a Sebastien Haller brace, before Cameroon responded with a 1-0 home win in Yaoundé, a result that sent the Indomitable Lions to Qatar 2022.
This will be the ninth AFCON meeting between the Ivory Coast and Cameroon, the joint second-most meetings between any two nations at the finals.
Gabon vs Mozambique
Earlier in the day, at the Grand Stade d’Agadir, Gabon and Mozambique meet in a crucial Group F encounter as both sides seek their first points of the tournament. Kick-off is at 3:30 PM EAT.
This will be the first meeting between the two nations at the AFCON finals, although they have faced each other seven times previously in all competitions.
Gabon hold a slight edge with four wins, while Mozambique have recorded two victories, with one match ending in a draw.
Their most recent meetings came during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, with both teams securing 1-0 home victories, though neither qualified for the finals.
They also met in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where Gabon won 3-1 at home before a 1-1 draw in Mozambique.
All seven previous meetings have produced goals, and each of the last four encounters has ended with a winner, a trend that adds extra intrigue to this must-win contest.
