2025 AFCON Group F Match Preview: Gabon vs Ivory Coast

Already-eliminated Gabon have nothing but pride to play for on Wednesday when they face Africa Cup of Nations defending champions Ivory Coast in the final match of Group F.

The Elephants, however, have yet to secure their final position in the ‘Group of Death’ and Emerse Fae’s team head into the encounter in Marrakesh looking to continue their Cup of Nations unbeaten run under the former midfielder.

Gabon were tipped to compete for the top honours in Group F before the tournament began, but the Panthers instead are heading home after suffering two defeats from two.

While few observers may have predicted Thierry Mouyouma’s men falling to Cameroon in their tournament opener due to the chaos that preceded the Indomitable Lions’ trip to Morocco, Sunday’s defeat to Mozambique sent shockwaves through the continent.

Having entered AFCON 2025 with a 15-match winless run at the continental showpiece, the Mambas’ loss to Ivory Coast extended that sequence to 16 matches; however, it changed against Gabon on Sunday when both teams played out a five-goal thriller.

Not helped by falling 2-0 and 3-1 behind, Mouyouma’s team could not secure the draw needed to keep them alive entering the final round of matches.

Considering that Cameroon and the defending African champions have four points and Mozambique have three, the Panthers cannot advance even as one of the four best third-placed sides due to their loss to the Mambas, with head-to-head points the primary tiebreaker.

Aiming to take advantage of an eliminated opponent, Fae’s men head into Wednesday having not suffered a loss in six matches at the Cup of Nations, a streak stretching back to the previous tournament.

While there might have been pre-AFCON 2023 pressure as hosts, Fae took over mid-tournament with the Elephants only just squeaking through as one of the leading third-placed teams.

However, having had nearly two years in the job, the former midfielder’s team started the ongoing tournament not only as defending champion but after a World Cup qualifying series that ended with the Elephants going unbeaten and not conceding.

Conceding against Cameroon in Sunday’s 1-1 draw means the three-time African champions will not have such a commendable run in Morocco, but they remain undefeated in a competitive game in over a year, with Zambia — in AFCON 2025 qualification in November 2024 — the last team to beat the Elephants.

Entering Wednesday without a defeat to Gabon in the past two games — both in World Cup qualifying — and with just one loss suffered in the last six competitive meetings, the AFCON 2023 winners aim to claim the victory to potentially secure top spot in Group F.

Gabon possible starting lineup:

Mbaba; Onfia, Moucketou-Moussounda, Lemina, Ekomie; Kanga, N’Dong; Babicka, Poko, Bouanga; Aubameyang

Ivory Coast possible starting lineup:

Fofana; Doue, Koussounou, Ndicka, Konan; Kessie, Sangare, S. Fofana; Diallo, Bayo, Zaha​

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