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46 mins: An early half chance for Cote d’Ivoire, with Krasso’s slight header taking the ball out of Zaha’s path at the far post.
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Second half
Gabon have made a change, with Clench N’Della coming on for Ndong, who was booked in the first half. N’Della plays his football for Al-Minaa in Iraq.
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The players are making their way back out in Marrakech and Agadir, while fans in the stands wave flags, dance and generally have a lovely time.
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Here’s a reminder of the last-16 bracket. If it stays this way, Cameroon will play Burkina Faso next, with Cote d’Ivoire facing South Africa, and Mozambique taking on Nigeria.
Mali v Tunisia
Senegal v Sudan
Egypt v Benin
[Winner Group F] v Burkina Faso
South Africa v [Runner-up Group F]
Morocco v Tanzania
Algeria v DR Congo
Nigeria v [third place Group F]
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Mozambique 1-1 Cameroon: Half time in the other game, and it’s all square. That means as it stands, Cameroon will top the group with five points, with Cote d’Ivoire second on four points by virtue of their previous victory over Mozambique.
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Half time: Gabon 2-1 Cote d’Ivoire
A thoroughly entertaining half of football ends with Gabon still in front, but their opponents with momentum after pulling a goal back. More of the same, we hope, in the second half.
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46 mins: Gabon win a free kick some 35 yards out, but Kanga eventually drags an effort wide from the edge of the area. Zohouri goes in the book for the foul.
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Updated at 15.07 EST
45 mins: Two minutes of stoppage time and Cote d’Ivoire keep pushing. Operi sends a tempting cross through the six-yard box, but nobody is there and at the back post, Diakite can only chip it behind for a goal kick.
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GOAL! Gabon 2-1 Cote d’Ivoire (Krasso 43′)
Game on! Seri finally finds a killer ball through the Gabonese defence, picking out Zaha on the left. He could easily go for goal himself but unselfishly squares to Krasso, who taps home from close range.
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42 mins: Operi’s latest cross into the box is cleared, and Kanga draws a foul from Jean-Michael Seri. The frustration continues for Cote d’Ivoire.
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40 mins: Diakite cuts the ball back towards Zaha, but Moucketou-Moussounda does really well to get a foot to the ball first.
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39 mins: Cote d’Ivoire win a corner and Agbadou connects with his head, but it’s straight at Bekale. They need to take one of these chances, preferably before half time.
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Mozambique 1-1 Cameroon: Kofane has the ball in the net for Cameroon after rounding the keeper – but the striker is flagged offside.
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35 mins: Cote d’Ivoire go close again! Christ Inao Oulai, a teenager who plays for Trabzonspor, almost scores one of the goals of the tournament with a shot from 30 yards that swerves in mid-air, but flies just beyond the top corner.
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33 mins: Eek! Albon Lafont, making his Afcon debut in goal, was at fault for the opener and he presents the ball to Oyono here, while miles out of his goal. Thankfully for the keeper, Oyono can’t get his shot on target from distance.
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31 mins: Cote d’Ivoire hit the post! Diakite looks the most likely player in white to make a breakthrough, and he looks odds-on to score after surging towards goal – but he blasts his shot far too hard, and it cannons off the outside of the post.
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Mozambique 1-1 Cameroon: All square again in Agadir. After a bit of penalty-box pinball, Nene tries desperately to clear off the line, but can only turn the ball into his own net.
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30 mins: Diakite shoots from a narrow angle and Bekale juggles the ball behind for a corner. The ball falls to Kessie who plays it back to Diomande, but he can’t find a gap in the yellow wall.
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28 mins: There’s also the matter of World Cup revenge for Gabon – Cote d’Ivoire pipped them to qualification by a single point.
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26 mins: Cote d’Ivoire are trying to regroup – it’s fair to say that Emerse Fae’s raft of changes have not paid off so far. Bouanga threatens to burst through again but is held up, and eventually penalised for a foul on Agbadou.
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Mozambique 1-0 Cameroon: A big goal in Group F’s other game – Geny Catamo has fired Mozambique in front! So as it stands, the underdogs top the group – with Cote d’Ivoire in third place on goal difference.
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It’s a brilliant finish from Denis Bouanga, steering Poko’s deflected cross first time into the far corner with the Ivorian defence all over the place.
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GOAL! Gabon 2-0 Cote d’Ivoire (Bouanga 21′)
Oh my. Another devastating breakaway, and Gabon – already eliminated – have doubled their lead!
Denis Bouanga shows his delight after doubling Gabon’s lead. Photograph: Themba Hadebe/APShare
Updated at 14.44 EST
19 mins: Cote d’Ivoire think they have a penalty as Oulai is bustled over in the area by Poko – but the referee’s whistle is actually for offside against Oulai.
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18 mins: The pattern of the game looks to be established now, with Gabon sitting back and inviting their opponents to break them down.
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16 mins: Didier Ndong is booked for a clumsy foul about 10 yards outside the area. Another chance to bend a cross in, but Gabon deal with the danger again.
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Updated at 14.18 EST
14 mins: As it stands, Cameroon lead Group F – their game against Mozambique is still goalless – while Cote d’Ivoire sit second.
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13 mins: Cote d’Ivoire look to hit back quickly, with the ball deflected over the bar after Gabon keeper Bekale went walkabout. The corner finds the head of Diomande, but the centre-back sends his effort wide.
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After a spell of Ivorian pressure, Gabon break away through Bouanga, who holds the ball up for Kanga. His pass out wide founds Averlant, whose shot is saved by Lafont – but the keeper spills it, and Kanga is there to tuck away the rebound!
Denis Bouanga controls the ball for Gabon. Photograph: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 14.47 EST
GOAL! Gabon 1-0 Côte d’Ivoire (Kanga 10′)
Against the run of play, Gabon take an early lead through Guelor Kanga!
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8 mins: Cote d’Ivoire win a free kick just left of the area, which Operi swings into the right area, but nobody in white can get the killer touch.
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6 mins: Cote d’Ivoire win a corner that rebounds into the path of Wilfried Zaha. He takes his time to line it up, and it’s deflected behind off Ndong for another corner, which is cleared away.
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4 mins: Emmanuel Agbadou gets back to clear the danger from a Gabon long ball upfield.
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2 mins: Cote d’Ivoire have started on the front foot, zipping the ball around nicely before a deep cross is punched clear by Bekale.
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Updated at 14.05 EST
Kick off
We’re under way! Gabon are in their Brazil-esque yellow and blue, with Côte d’Ivoire in their all-white away kits.
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“I’ve watched a few games recently that would put years on anyone,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “Man Utd v Wolves was the latest. So I hope your transannual travels are at least entertaining tonight.”
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I’m not sure I’ve ever done a live blog across two different years; if you’re reading this in a country where it’s already 2026, let us know how it’s going.
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If you’re wondering why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang isn’t anywhere to be found on the Gabon team sheet – he’s already left Afcon and returned to Marseille, having played through injury at the tournament.
Côte d’Ivoire have made several changes from the team that drew with Cameroon, resting the likes of Amad Diallo, Ibrahim Sangare and Seko Fofana with a place in the last 16 already guaranteed.
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Here’s how the last 16 bracket looks, with just Group F’s three qualifiers to be slotted in later. While the third-placed team will have to face Nigeria, the routes for first and second aren’t too different: a winnable last-16 tie, then probably Egypt or Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Mali v Tunisia
Senegal v Sudan
Egypt v Benin
[Winner Group F] v Burkina Faso
South Africa v [Runner-up Group F]
Morocco v Tanzania
Algeria v DR Congo
Nigeria v [third place Group F]
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In Group E, Algeria were already assured of top spot but secured their third straight win, defeating Equatorial Guinea 3-1. Zineddine Belaid, Fares Chaibi and Ibrahim Maza all struck in the first half for Algeria, with Emilio Nsue getting a consolation goal for eliminated Equatorial Guinea.
In the other game, Burkina Faso sealed second place in the group with a 2-0 win over Sudan, who still go through as one of the best third-placed teams. Lassina Traore and Arsene Kouassi scored for the Stallions in Casablanca.
Ibrahim Maza (centre) celebrates after scoring Algeria’s third goal of the game. Photograph: Jalal Morchidi/EPAShare
Team news
Gabon (4-2-3-1): Bekale; Jeremy Oyono, Mouketou-Moussounda, Omfia, Ekomie; Ndong, Lemina; Poko, Kanga, Bouanga; Averlant.
Subs: Ngoubi, Appindangoye, Anthony Oyono, Ecuele Manga, Obiang, Evouna, Loufilou, Babicka, Bocoum, Nze Bagnama, Do Marcolino, M’Bemba, Essang-Matouti, Openda, Mbaba.
Côte d’Ivoire (4-3-3): Lafont; Operi, Ousmane Diomande, Agbadou, Zohouri; Seri, Kessie, Oulai; Diakite, Krasso, Zaha.
Subs: Yahia Fofana, Konan, Seko Fofana, Kossounou, Boly, Diallo, Doue, Sangare, N’Dicka, Guessand, Toure, Gbamin, Yan Diomande, Kone.
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Updated at 13.15 EST
Preamble
The group stages of Afcon 2025 come to a close tonight, with top spot in Group F still up for grabs. Côte d’Ivoire are looking to hold off Cameroon to join the other big names finishing first in their group: Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and Algeria.
In order to do that, the Elephants need to match or better Cameroon’s result against Mozambique in tonight’s game. It helps that Gabon are already out, although pride is at stake after that unexpected 3-2 defeat to the group outsiders on Sunday.
As for Mozambique, they are already guaranteed at least a last-16 place as one of the four best third-placed sides, but could still claim top spot with a win tonight – which would certainly shake up the knockout bracket. Kick-off: 7pm (GMT).
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