Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire produced a stunning comeback to defeat Gabon 3-2 in Marrakech, snatching top spot in Group F with a dramatic stoppage-time winner.
The Panthers stunned the Elephants by racing into a two-goal lead inside 21 minutes. Guélor Kanga struck first in the 11th minute before Denis Bouanga, playing his club football in Los Angeles, doubled the advantage with a well-taken finish. Gabon, already eliminated from the tournament, appeared determined to salvage pride from their campaign.
Côte d’Ivoire pulled one back just before half-time through Jean-Philippe Krasso, who latched onto excellent interplay between Jean Michaël Seri and recalled winger Wilfried Zaha to finish clinly. The goal provided a lifeline heading into the break, with the defending champions trailing 2-1.
The Ivorians pushed forward relentlessly in the second half, and their pressure finally told in the 84th minute. Substitute Evann Guessand, the Aston Villa forward, headed home from a corner to draw the scores level and breathe new life into Côte d’Ivoire’s pursuit of top spot.
With the match appearing destined for a draw, substitute Bazoumana Touré produced the decisive moment. In the first minute of stoppage time, the midfielder rose highest at the back post to power home a header, sending the Ivorian fans into delirium and securing top spot in Group F.
The remarkable victory extends Côte d’Ivoire’s competitive unbeaten streak to 14 matches and sees them finish level on seven points with Cameroon, claiming first place thanks to scoring one more goal than the Indomitable Lions. They will now face neighbours Burkina Faso in an all-West African Round of 16 encounter in Marrakech on 6 January.
For Gabon, the defeat completes a miserable campaign in which they became one of only three teams to lose all three group matches. The Panthers’ early exit represents a significant disappointment following their World Cup qualifying exploits.
