Ivory Coast battle to a 1-1 draw against Cameroon
Defending champions Ivory Coast and five-time winners Cameroon produced a tense encounter that ended 1-1 in Marrakech on Sunday. The Elephants struck first through Amad Diallo in the 51st minute, but their lead was short-lived as a defensive lapse saw Ghislain Konan score an own goal in the 56th minute.
Ivory Coast relied heavily on wing play, with Amad Diallo and Yan Diomande stretching Cameroon’s backline. Franck Kessié controlled midfield tempo but struggled to break down Cameroon’s compact shape.
Cameroon, meanwhile, leaned on counter-attacks, with Mbeumo and Christian Kofane threatening in transition. The own goal came from sustained Cameroonian pressure, showing how quickly momentum could swing in such a high-stakes game.
Both teams pushed hard for a winner, with Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo nearly snatching victory in stoppage time, only to be denied by a heroic block from Odilon Kossounou.
Coaches’ Reactions
Ivory Coast coach Emas Fae praised his side’s fighting spirit but admitted frustration at conceding through an own goal. He emphasized the need for sharper finishing to convert dominance into wins.
Cameroon’s new coach David Pagou, hailed his team’s unity and discipline. He highlighted the defensive block by Kossounou as proof of the intensity of the match, while insisting Cameroon will grow stronger as the tournament progresses.
After this draw, both Ivory Coast and Cameroon sit on 4 points from two games (1 win, 1 draw). Their identical records mean the final group matches will be decisive. Ivory Coast will tackle the Panthers of Gabon on Wednesday while Cameroon will face the Mambas of Mozambique.
The 1-1 draw was a fair reflection of two giants refusing to yield. Ivory Coast showed flashes of their championship pedigree, while Cameroon demonstrated resilience under new leadership. With both teams locked on points, their final group fixtures will determine who advances as leaders and who risks elimination. Fans can expect more drama as AFCON 2025 continues to deliver high-intensity football.
Here are the confirmed AFCON 2025 Group F standings after two matchdays:
| No. | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivory Coast | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 |
| 2 | Cameroon | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 |
| 3 | Mozambique | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Gabon | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 0 |
Mozambique made headlines with a historic 3-2 win over Gabon, their first AFCON victory in 39 years. Gabon sits bottom with 0 points, needing a win in their final match to have any chance of progressing.
This means Group F is still wide open: Ivory Coast and Cameroon are favorites to qualify, but Mozambique could sneak through if they win their last game.
