Sensational Comeback Sees Côte d’Ivoire Top Group F
Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire produced a thrilling comeback to overturn a two-goal deficit and beat Gabon 3–2 in their final Group F match at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, sealing top spot in dramatic fashion.
Already eliminated from the tournament, Gabon played for pride and started brightly. Guelor Kanga opened the scoring in the 11th minute before Denis Bouanga doubled the Panthers’ advantage 10 minutes later, netting his first goal of the competition and stunning the Elephants.
With their hopes of finishing top of the group under threat, Côte d’Ivoire responded just before the break. Wilfried Zaha turned provider, setting up Jean-Philippe Krasso to halve the deficit with just a minute remaining in the first half, though Gabon still went into the interval with a 2–1 lead.
Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Faé, who had initially rested several key players, made decisive changes in the second half. The introductions of Amad Diallo, Evann Guessand and teenager Bazoumana Touré—making his first appearance of the tournament—injected urgency and belief into the champions’ performance.
The substitutions paid off late in the game. With six minutes remaining, Guessand struck the equaliser to set up a nervy finale. Then, in stoppage time, Bazoumana Touré completed the remarkable turnaround, scoring the winner to send the Ivorian bench into raptures.
The defeat confirmed Gabon’s exit at the group stage, as they finished bottom of Group F after losing all three matches.
Côte d’Ivoire’s victory, combined with Cameroon’s 2–1 win over Mozambique in the other simultaneous group fixture, saw both sides finish level on seven points. However, the Elephants claimed top spot courtesy of a superior goal difference, with head-to-head unable to separate the two teams.
In the Round of 16, Côte d’Ivoire will face Burkina Faso, while Cameroon are set for a clash with South Africa as the knockout stage beckons for a place in the quarter finals.