In a dramatic football match in Marrakech, Morocco, defending champions Ivory Coast staged a remarkable comeback against Gabon, overturning a two-goal deficit to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory. This precious win propelled the Elephants to the top of Group F at the conclusion of the Africa Cup of Nations group stage, edging out Cameroon on goal difference after the latter's hard-fought win against Mozambique.
The match began with a major upset, as Gabon surprised Ivory Coast, who fielded a largely reserve side to rest their starters. The Gabonese "Panthers" capitalized on this, scoring two first-half goals through Guillermo Canga and Denis Bouanga, benefiting from the absence of pressure after their elimination from the tournament was already confirmed. Despite the absence of their star player, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, due to injury, Gabon put on a courageous performance that nearly embarrassed the defending champions.
The turning point of the match came just before halftime when Jean-Philippe Krasso narrowed the gap, giving the Ivorians a huge morale boost. In the second half, specifically in the frantic final seven minutes, the Ivory Coast bench proved its worth, with substitutes Ivan Guissin and Bazoumana Touré scoring the equalizing and winning goals, highlighting the depth of the squad and its ability to come back in the most difficult circumstances.
Meanwhile, in Agadir, the excitement was palpable in the match between Cameroon and Mozambique. Watched by Cameroonian football legends Roger Milla and Samuel Eto'o, the "Indomitable Lions" struggled before securing a 2-1 victory. Despite Mozambique taking an early lead with a brilliant goal from Jene Katamu, Cameroon's experience proved decisive, with an own goal and another from Christian Couvin securing the win. This victory brought Cameroon's points tally to seven, level with Ivory Coast, though Ivory Coast held the advantage on goal difference.
These results hold significant strategic importance for the knockout stages. By topping their group, Ivory Coast secured their place in Marrakech for their Round of 16 match against Burkina Faso, sparing their players the fatigue of travel and ensuring their physical and technical stability. In contrast, Cameroon will have to travel to Rabat for a tough encounter against South Africa, while Mozambique will play against the formidable Nigeria in Fez. This sets the stage for some fiery Round of 16 clashes, reflecting the evolution of African football and the rising intensity of competition on the continent.
