Ivory Coast Triumphs Over Gabon in AFCON Thriller

The reigning Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions, Ivory Coast, staged an impressive comeback to defeat Gabon 3-2 in a thrilling match on Wednesday night.

Gabon initially took control of the game, with Guelor Kanga scoring in the 11th minute, followed by a goal from Denis Bouanga just ten minutes later, capitalizing on defensive lapses from the Elephants.

As the first half drew to a close, former Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha assisted Jean-Philippe Krasso, who skillfully reduced the deficit to 2-1.

In the second half, Christopher Operi set up Evann Guessand, who equalized at 2-2. Operi then played a pivotal role once again, assisting Bazoumana Toure in stoppage time to secure the victory.

This win propelled Ivory Coast to the top of Group F, setting up a match against Burkina Faso in the Last 16, while Gabon exited the tournament without securing a single point.

Meanwhile, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon overcame the Flames of Mozambique to finish second in the group, preparing to face Bafana Bafana in the knockout round. Mozambique, featuring former Kaizer Chiefs defender Edmilson Dove, struck first with Geny Catamo’s goal in the 23rd minute. However, Cameroon’s Nene equalized by scoring an own goal shortly after.

In the 55th minute, 19-year-old Christian Kofane scored a stunning goal, allowing Cameroon to claim maximum points, though they still did not finish at the top of the group.

Mozambique’s performance as one of the best third-placed teams will see them compete against Nigeria in the next round.

Teams progressing to the knockout phase include Algeria, Mozambique, South Africa, Tunisia, Egypt, Benin, Senegal, Cameroon, Sudan, Tanzania, DR Congo, Morocco, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast.

The upcoming fixtures for the knockout stage are as follows:

– 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

South Africa’s coach, Hugo Broos, reflected on his achievements with the team, comparing them to his earlier success with Cameroon in 2017. He expressed greater satisfaction with the current campaign, emphasizing the unexpected journey to the semi-finals and the need for concentration in upcoming matches against formidable opponents.

Broos highlighted the importance of maintaining focus during games, pointing out lapses in performance against Egypt and Zimbabwe. He stressed that against either Ivory Coast or Cameroon in the next round, a lack of determination would prove detrimental to their chances of victory.