Afcon Group F Draw Keeps Ivory Coast And Cameroon On Knockout Track

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Cameroon held Africa Cup of Nations holders Ivory Coast to a 1-1 draw at Stade de Marrakech, thanks to an own goal from Ghislain Konan that cancelled out Amad Diallo’s opener. The Group F result leaves both teams on four points and in strong contention for the AFCON 2025 knockout phase.

The match swung on two major second-half moments. Amad struck in the 51st minute, but Cameroon levelled five minutes later when Konan diverted a cross into Ivory Coast’s net. Bryan Mbeumo almost settled the contest near the end, yet Odilon Kossounou produced a crucial block.

Group F now looks finely balanced, with Cameroon and Ivory Coast sharing top spot on four points each. Both sides are well placed to advance, though final positions remain open. Cameroon had earlier gone close through Christian Kofane, whose first-half effort struck the woodwork before bouncing clear.

Elsewhere at AFCON 2025, Algeria became the first team in this section of the draw to guarantee qualification. Riyad Mahrez converted a penalty to defeat Burkina Faso 1-0 in Group E. Equatorial Guinea and Gabon exited the tournament after respective defeats against Sudan and Mozambique.

The most threatening Ivory Coast spell came soon after half-time, but the pattern began earlier. Before the break, Cameroon created pressure, yet failed to take command. Kofane’s strike against the frame of the goal highlighted that missed opportunity and underlined the narrow margins in this Group F meeting.

The second period opened with major chances at both ends. Danny Namaso wasted a clear opportunity for Cameroon, then moments later Franck Kessie thought a breakthrough had arrived. Kessie’s finish was ruled out, keeping the scoreline level and giving Cameroon a brief reprieve before Ivory Coast finally struck.

Namaso’s frustration grew when a deflected attempt clipped the crossbar, again denying Cameroon. Ivory Coast then broke forward quickly from that incident. Amad collected the ball near the edge of the area and curled a precise left-footed shot into the left-hand corner, placing the holders 1-0 up.

Cameroon responded almost immediately after falling behind. Junior Tchamadeu advanced down the right and delivered a cross into the penalty area. Konan attempted to deal with the ball but instead looped a header over the goalkeeper, turning it into Ivory Coast’s net for the equaliser on 56 minutes.

Late in the match, Cameroon created a chance that could have almost settled Group F. A swift counter-attack released Mbeumo in space inside the area. The forward drilled a low effort towards goal, but Kossounou slid across to block, preserving Ivory Coast’s point and keeping the group finely poised.

AFCON 2025 Cameroon vs Ivory Coast data debrief

The shot numbers reflected a tight AFCON 2025 contest between Cameroon and Ivory Coast. There were 25 attempts in total, with Ivory Coast taking 13 and Cameroon 12. However, quality chances were rare, as Opta’s "big chance" measure recorded just three openings across the entire Group F clash.

The expected goals figures underline how evenly matched Cameroon and Ivory Coast were. Ivory Coast generated shots worth 0.97 xG, while Cameroon’s attempts totalled 0.65 xG. Both defences limited clear openings, contributing to a contest where a defensive error and a clinical finish decided the scoreboard.

From an individual standpoint, Amad again had a decisive AFCON 2025 impact. The Manchester United forward scored for the second straight match and led the game with five shots, though only the goal hit the target. Mbeumo, who had created six chances on MD1, managed just one key pass this time.

The Premier League forwards approached the match differently. Amad focused heavily on shooting, while Mbeumo balanced attempts with link play. Mbeumo registered three shots but could not convert, including the late effort blocked by Kossounou. That contrast helped shape a match where both attacks threatened without fully breaking through.

Amad’s goalscoring form at AFCON 2025 has drawn wider attention during the tournament.

The draw between Cameroon and Ivory Coast leaves both giants well positioned in Group F ahead of their final AFCON 2025 fixtures. With Algeria already through in Group E and several nations eliminated, the focus now turns to how these contenders manage their last group matches to confirm progression.