IVORY COAST STUN GABON WITH LATE COMEBACK, CAMEROON EDGE MOZAMBIQUE AS AFCON LAST 16 IS SET
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Defending champions Ivory Coast produced a dramatic comeback to defeat Gabon 3–2 in Marrakesh on Wednesday, scoring a stoppage-time winner to top Group F at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Substitute Bazoumana Toure struck in added time as the Ivorians overturned a two-goal deficit to finish first in the group ahead of Cameroon on goals scored, with both teams ending the group stage on seven points and a goal difference of plus two.
Earlier in the day, Cameroon also came from behind to secure a 2–1 victory over Mozambique in Agadir, with teenage winger Christian Kofane sealing the win with a spectacular long-range effort.
In Marrakesh, Gabon shocked the title holders by racing into a two-goal lead within the opening 21 minutes. Guelor Kanga opened the scoring in the 11th minute before Denis Bouanga doubled the advantage, capitalising on Ivory Coast’s early defensive lapses.
Ivory Coast responded just before the break when Jean-Philippe Krasso reduced the deficit on 44 minutes, finishing off a move created by Wilfried Zaha, who was recalled to the national team after missing the previous title-winning campaign.
The defending champions pushed for an equaliser in the second half, introducing fresh legs as the match wore on. Their persistence paid off in the 84th minute when substitute Evann Guessand levelled the score.
Deep into stoppage time, Toure completed the turnaround with a decisive strike, handing Ivory Coast a memorable victory and keeping alive their bid to become the first team to retain the AFCON title since Egypt in 2010.
In Agadir, Mozambique had stunned Cameroon by taking the lead in the 23rd minute through Geny Catamo, whose low drive slipped past goalkeeper Devis Epassy.
Cameroon quickly responded, drawing level five minutes later after a defensive mix-up resulted in an own goal by Feliciano ‘Nene’ Jone. The Indomitable Lions eventually found the winner on 55 minutes when 19-year-old Kofane unleashed a thunderous shot from outside the box that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar.
The results completed the line-up for the round of 16, with Ivory Coast set to face Burkina Faso, Cameroon to take on South Africa, and Mozambique to meet Nigeria in the knockout stage.
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