Published:
Tuesday, 30 December 2025
Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire meet at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in their final Group match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, with different objectives for each side.
Already eliminated, Gabon will be looking to finish the tournament on a positive note and deliver a performance that reflects their ambitions. Côte d’Ivoire, the reigning African champions, are aiming to confirm first place in the knockout stage.
Despite their elimination, the Panthers are determined to approach their final group match with commitment.
Facing the defending champions provides an opportunity for Gabon to show character, play with intensity, and display a worthy performance to their supporters.
WHAT WAS SAID
Thierry Mouyouma – Gabon Head Coach
“Despite the disappointment, the team is ready. We are competitors. We have one last match to play against Côte d’Ivoire, the reigning African champions. It is a special match because it will be our final game of this competition. We want to finish well, especially against an opponent who will be playing for first place in the group.”
Johann Obiang – Gabon Player
As the coach said, we were disappointed but the group remains focused. We want to finish this competition properly, just as we wanted to start it well. We will play to win. This group is made up of competitors, and we have been building something together for several years.”
Emerse Faé – Côte d’Ivoire Head Coach
“Because we are Côte d’Ivoire, expectations are high. Our supporters expect us to win, and that responsibility is part of our role. We will play this match as if we were not yet qualified. There will be no calculations. We will simply play to win.”
Diakité Oumar – Côte d’Ivoire Player
“Every team wants to beat Côte d’Ivoire, regardless of the situation. That is normal. Even though Gabon are eliminated, they will want to finish with a good performance. We have to remain focused.”
PRE-MATCH STATISTICS
• 11 meetings between Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire 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
The statistics favour Côte d’Ivoire, but both teams will be aiming to deliver a strong performance in this final group match.
