Defending champions Ivory Coast and five-time winners Cameroon will meet in a crucial Group F clash at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Marrakesh on Sunday, December 28, as both teams look to build on their winning starts to the tournament.
Victory for either of the continental heavyweights would be enough to confirm their progression to the knockout stages of the competition.
Ivory Coast head into the fixture level on three points at the top of Group F after opening their title defence with a 1–0 victory over Mozambique on December 24, with the match-winning goal coming from Manchester United forward Amad Diallo, whose second-half strike ensured a controlled but narrow win for the Elephants in Marrakech.
Managed by Emerse Fae, Ivory Coast have continued the disciplined, possession-oriented approach that underpinned their triumph at the 2023 AFCON, remaining defensively solid against Mozambique while conceding few clear chances and allowing their midfield, anchored by Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare, to dictate the tempo for long periods.
The victory extended a strong run of competitive results for Ivory Coast, who have recorded four wins, one draw and one defeat across their last six competitive matches, scoring 13 goals and conceding just once, including emphatic World Cup qualifying wins over Kenya and Seychelles and a goalless draw away to Gabon.
As holders, Ivory Coast are aiming to become the first nation since Egypt in 2010 to successfully defend an AFCON title, with Sunday’s match widely regarded as the toughest remaining test in Group F and potentially decisive in determining who finishes top of the section.
Historically, meetings with Cameroon have been closely contested, with Ivory Coast holding a slight edge with 10 wins, two draws and nine defeats in 21 meetings, while the Elephants are unbeaten in their last five encounters, recording three wins, one draw and one defeat.
Cameroon set aside their off-field distractions to strike early against Gabon in their opening fixture as Bryan Mbeumo slipped Karl Etta Eyong through on goal, allowing the Levante forward to finish first time, with the strike confirmed after a VAR review and recorded as Eyong’s first senior international goal and the second-fastest in Cameroon’s AFCON history.
Despite a turbulent build-up to the tournament, Cameroon displayed resilience and organisation under head coach David Pagou, adopting a compact defensive structure and a measured attacking approach against Gabon, with Mbeumo again influential as the provider of the decisive assist.
The victory provided a timely lift after an uneven run of competitive matches, with Cameroon’s last six outings yielding three wins, one draw and two defeats, six goals scored and two conceded, including impressive World Cup qualifying wins over Eswatini and Mauritius but a narrow playoff defeat to DR Congo in November.
AFCON remains Cameroon’s most successful competition with five titles to their name, and the win over Gabon underlined their enduring tournament pedigree, particularly in tight, low-scoring encounters where game management proves decisive.
With both Cameroon and Ivory Coast level on three points, Sunday’s meeting is poised to influence the balance of power in Group F, as victory would hand either side a commanding position before the final round while a draw would leave qualification finely balanced.
Ivory Coast possible starting lineup:
Fofana; Doue, Ndicka, Kossounou, Konan; Seri, Kessie, Sangare; Y. Diomande, Diallo, Zaha
Cameroon possible starting lineup:
Epassy; Malone, Koto, Tolo, Tchamadeu, Yongwa; Baleba, Ebong, Namaso; Mbeumo, Eyong
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