Ivory Coast Triumphs Over Gabon as Nigeria and Burkina Faso Advance in AFCON 2025

In a thrilling conclusion to the group stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), defending champions Ivory Coast staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Gabon 3-2, securing their place at the top of Group F. Gabon initially led with first-half goals from Guelor Kanga and Denis Bouanga, but Ivory Coast responded with goals from Jean-Philippe Krasso, Evann Guessand, and a late winner from teenager Bazoumana Toure. Despite the loss, Gabon, missing star player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, was eliminated from the tournament.

Meanwhile, Nigeria's Super Eagles progressed to the knockout stage with a perfect record, winning all three group matches and finishing with 9 points. They are set to face a third-placed team in the Round of 16 on January 5, 2026, with potential matchups against Algeria or the Democratic Republic of Congo looming in the quarter-finals. The team is eager to reclaim the AFCON title after missing the 2026 World Cup.

In Group E, Burkina Faso secured second place with a 2-0 victory over Sudan, thanks to goals from Lassina Traore and Arsene Kouassi. This win allows Burkina Faso to advance to the knockout stage, where they will face either Ivory Coast, Cameroon, or Mozambique. Sudan also advanced as one of the best third-placed teams after Morocco's victory over Zambia, marking a significant achievement for the team under head coach Kwesi Appiah.

As the tournament progresses, the knockout stage promises to deliver exciting matchups, with teams like Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso looking to make their mark on the road to the AFCON final.