Côte d’Ivoire plays its last group stage match today against Gabon.
After a 1‑1 draw with Cameroon and Gabon’s 2‑3 defeat against Mozambique in their previous game, this clash promises a unique atmosphere:
- The Panthers (Gabon), already eliminated, want to give their fans one last thrill.
- The Elephants (Côte d’Ivoire), reigning champions, aim for the top spot to continue their journey with confidence.
Tonight, the Grand Stade de Marrakech becomes the stage for this highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations CAF Morocco 2025 showdown: Gabon vs Côte d’Ivoire, kick-off at 7:00 PM local time in Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire and UK.
Gabon vs Ivory Coast: What You Need to Know Before Kick-Off
At 1:00 PM (GMT), here are the latest updates:
- Date & Time: Wednesday, December 31, 7:00 PM (Marrakech) / 8:00 PM France
- Stadium: Grand Stade de Marrakech
- Broadcast: beIN Sports, SuperSport, Canal 2 International (depending on region)
- Standings: Côte d’Ivoire 4 pts (1W‑1D), Cameroon 4 pts, Mozambique 3 pts, Gabon 0 pt
- What’s at stake: A draw is enough for the Elephants to qualify, but a win secures first place.
Gabon vs Côte d’Ivoire: Players and Probable Line-Ups
At 1:00 PM (France time), here are the latest updates:
Côte d’Ivoire (4‑3‑3)
Y. Fofana — Guéla Doué, Kossounou, Ndicka, Konan — Sangaré, Kessié, Seko Fofana — Amad Diallo, Vakoun Bayo, Yan Diomandé
Gabon (4‑3‑3)
Mbaba — Oyono, Ecuele‑Manga, Lemina, Ekomié — Kanga, Ndong, Poko — Babicka, Aubameyang*, Bouanga
(*status uncertain)
To see the full list of Ivorian players at AFCON, check out our article: Ivory Coast at the AFCON 2025: Squad and Fixtures.
Pre-Match Stats: Gabon vs Ivory Coast
- 11 head-to-head meetings since 1987
- 6 wins for Côte d’Ivoire, 3 wins for Gabon, 2 draws
- 15 goals scored by Côte d’Ivoire, 7 goals scored by Gabon
Key Match Factors: Panthers vs Elephants
In their last match on December 28, 2025, Côte d’Ivoire played out a 1-1 draw with Cameroon:
- Ivorian goal: Amad Diallo (51’), a superb curling shot
- Equalizer: deflected shot, own goal by Konan (56’)
Key factors for tonight:
- Midfield control: the trio Kessié – Seko Fofana – Sangaré
- Amad Diallo in top form: 2 goals in 2 matches
- Gabon playing without pressure: watch out for quick transitions and Bouanga
Gabon vs Côte d’Ivoire: What They Said
Thierry Mouyouma (Gabon coach)
“Despite the disappointment, the team is ready. We are competitors. We want to finish well against the reigning champions.”Johann Obiang (Gabon)
“We’re disappointed, but focused. We’ll play to win. This group is full of competitors.”Emerse Faé (Côte d’Ivoire coach)
“As Côte d’Ivoire, expectations are high. We’ll approach this match as if we’re not yet qualified. No calculations: we play to win.”Diakité Oumar (Côte d’Ivoire)
“Even eliminated, Gabon will want to finish in style. We need to stay focused.”
AFCON 2025 Quarter-Final Schedule
Finally, if Ivory Coast wins today, they will finish first in Group F and face the second in Group E. Here’s the official schedule:
Thursday, January 2 – Rabat (Stade Moulay Abdallah)
Quarter-Final 1: 1st Group A vs 2nd Group B
Friday, January 3 – Marrakech (Grand Stade)
Quarter-Final 2: 1st Group F vs 2nd Group E (potential opponent for the Elephants)
Saturday, January 4 – Casablanca (Stade Mohammed V)
Quarter-Final 3: 1st Group C vs 2nd Group D
Sunday, January 5 – Tangier (Stade Ibn Battouta)
Quarter-Final 4: 1st Group E vs 2nd Group F
*Photos and official information from CAF.
And, if you feel fascinated by the Elephants and want to learn more about Côte d’Ivoire, don’t miss our article: 10 Interesting Facts About Ivory Coast.
