Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire face off at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in their final Group match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, a contest shaped by contrasting ambitions as the group stage draws to a close.
For Gabon, the journey in Morocco has already come to an end in competitive terms, but head coach Thierry Mouyouma insists there is still plenty to play for. The Panthers are determined to leave the tournament with a performance that reflects their fighting spirit and long-term vision.
“Of course there is disappointment, but we are competitors,” Mouyouma said. “This is our last match of the competition and it is against the reigning African champions. That makes it special. We want to finish in the right way, with pride and commitment.”
Midfielder Johann Obiang echoed his coach’s sentiments, stressing that elimination has not broken the team’s focus. “We were disappointed, but the group is still united and motivated,” Obiang noted. “We want to end this tournament properly. We will play to win because this team has been building something together for several years.”
Côte d’Ivoire approach the match from a position of strength. As defending champions, the Elephants are targeting victory to secure top spot in the group and carry momentum into the knockout rounds. Head coach Emerse Faé made it clear that qualification will not lead to complacency.
“When you represent Côte d’Ivoire, expectations are always high,” Faé said. “Our supporters expect us to win. We will play this match as if we are not yet qualified. There will be no calculations, only the desire to win.”
Defender Diakité Oumar warned that Gabon could be dangerous despite their situation. “Every team wants to beat Côte d’Ivoire,” he said. “Gabon will want to finish strongly, so we have to stay focused and disciplined.”
Historically, the matchup favours Côte d’Ivoire. Since 1987, the two sides have met 11 times, with the Elephants claiming six wins compared to Gabon’s three, while two games ended in draws. Côte d’Ivoire have also outscored Gabon 15 goals to seven.
While the statistics lean towards the champions, the final group encounter promises intensity, with Gabon playing for pride and Côte d’Ivoire chasing control and confidence ahead of the knockout stage.
