AFCON 2025: Top spot up for grabs as Group F prepares for decisive final matches

Avoiding tougher opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 is all that the trio of Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Mozambique will hope for when they play their final Group F matches on Wednesday.

Gabon will face defending champions Ivory Coast, while Mozambique will take on Cameroon, with both matches kicking off at 10 PM (East African Time).

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The three countries will seek to register positive results, in their respective matches, to avoid being drawn against giants in the Round of 16.

Gabon vs Ivory Coast

Gabon will face the defending champions at the Stade de Marrakech.

Going into the match, the Elephants are second in Group F, having secured victory over Mozambique in their season opener, before settling for a draw against Cameroon.

To secure the top spot-and a potentially friendly draw in the knockout phase- Ivory Coast must win and hope that Cameroon fails to beat Mozambique.

Gabon, on the other hand, have had a dismal performance in this edition, having suffered defeats in their opening matches against Cameroon and Mozambique.

Today's match will be the first time the two sides will be meeting in the AFCON finals.

However, they have met 18 times across all competitions. Ivory Coast have won 10 of those meetings, with Gabon winning only four of them.

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Ivory Coast head coach Emarse Fae says that his side will approach the match with the seriousness it deserves

“Because we are Ivory Coast, expectations are high. Our supporters expect us to win, and that responsibility is part of our role. We will play this match as if we were not yet qualified. There will be no calculations. We will simply play to win,” said Fae.

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His Gabon counterpart Thierry Mouyouma is determined to spoil the Ivorian party.

“Despite the disappointment, the team is ready. We are competitors. We have one last match to play against Ivory Coast, the reigning African champions.

It is a special match because it will be our final game of this competition. We want to finish well, especially against an opponent who will be playing for first place in the group,” stated Mouyouma.

Mozambique vs Cameroon

Mozambique will lock horns with Cameroon at Stade Adrar in Agadir.

Both teams have already secured a place in the Round of 16 and will therefore be battling out for top spot in the group as well as the bragging rights in the encounter.

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Mozambique suffered defeat in their opener against Ivory Coast, but secured an important victory over Gabon that assured them of a place in the knockout phase, at least as one of the third-best teams.

While the two sides have met eight times previously, this will be the first time they will face off in the AFCON finals.

The Indomitable Lions have won seven of those encounters, with The Mambas tasting victory just once.

In his pre-match press conference, Cameroon head coach David Pagou acknowledged Mozambique's threat.

“We have analyzed how they play, and we know they are a really good team, one that wants to play the ball and do so as a block. They have a very good coach who really understands the competition very well, and I know they will be a difficult opponent.

However, we are not worried because we are sticking to our mission, which is to come here and do our best. We will change nothing with our planning and ambitions, even though we are already qualified,” said Pagou.

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For Chiquinho Conde, his side needs to switch from the joy of winning and qualifying to the reality of the Cameroon clash.

“We are still trying to find the balance between the emotion we have and the preparation for the game because we waited for 16 games to win one match. We are all still happy, congratulating each other, and enjoying the moment.

I am happy, but as a coach, we need to stop a little bit of the celebrations and think about this game. We will find the best strategy to beat Cameroon, which is a really good team from what we have seen. I have an idea of how we can play and compete to win,” said the tactician.

Wednesday Fixtures

19.00: (6.00) Equatorial Guinea (3.60) Algeria (1.65)

19.00: (4.60) Sudan (3.35) Burkina Faso (1.87)

22.00: (6.00) Gabon (3.60) Ivory Coast (1.65)

22.00: (7.00) Mozambique (4.50) Cameroon (1.45)