Ivory Coast Stage Stunning Comeback Against Gabon in AFCON 2025 Thriller

Dramatic Comeback Secures Group F Victory for Defending Champions

Gabon suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat at the hands of Ivory Coast at the Stade de Marrakech, concluding their AFCON 2025 campaign without a win. The match, played on 31 December 2025, proved to be a dramatic encounter that showcased the resilience of the defending champions and the fighting spirit of an already-eliminated Gabon side.

Panthers Take Early Lead Against Tournament Favourites

In the 11th minute, Guélor Kanga opened the scoring, capitalizing on a defensive blunder, before Denis Bouanga doubled the lead with a precise cross-shot. The Panthers’ impressive first-half performance stunned many observers, as they appeared determined to salvage pride from their disappointing tournament. Ivory Coast responded before halftime when Jean-Philippe Krasso pulled one back in the 44th minute, narrowing the deficit to 2-1 at the break.

Elephants Complete Remarkable Turnaround

The Elephants pushed relentlessly and finally broke Gabon’s resistance late on, with E. Guessand equalizing in the 84th minute before B. Touré sealed the comeback in stoppage time. Defending Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast came from two goals down to defeat Gabon 3-2, qualifying them as group winners to set up a round of 16 showdown with Burkina Faso.

Significance for Both Nations

One of the biggest surprises of AFCON 2025 has been the outright elimination of Gabon, who began with a loss to Cameroon and proceeded to hand Mozambique its first ever AFCON finals victory. For Ivory Coast, the victory demonstrated their championship mentality and ability to overcome adversity. The result confirms their status as serious contenders to retain their continental crown, whilst Gabon will reflect on what might have been after such promising displays against superior opposition.