Africa Cup Of Nations | Sunday December 28 | Group F
- Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon
- Gabon 2-3 Mozambique
Amad Diallo is fast making this Africa Cup of Nations his own. Four days after scoring the winner against Mozambique, the Manchester United winger delivered again on Sunday night, his goal earning defending champions Ivory Coast a hard-fought 1–1 draw with rivals Cameroon in Marrakech.
Diallo struck six minutes into the second half, the reward for a night of relentless running down the right.
Ghislain Konan’s long pass found him in space, and he finished calmly with his left foot to beat Devis Epassy and lift the Ivorian fans.
It was his second goal of the tournament and another sign that Ivory Coast’s title defence has a new heartbeat.
The lead, though, did not last. Five minutes later Cameroon were level when Junior Tchamadeu’s shot from the edge of the box took a cruel deflection off Konan, looping over Yahia Fofana and into the net.
The result left both sides level at the top of Group F on four points, a fair outcome in a game that swung freely and belonged to no one for long.
Diallo set the tone early, firing wide from a promising position before constantly troubling Cameroon’s back line.
The Indomitable Lions answered through Christian Kofane, whose fierce strike crashed off the crossbar after another dangerous Tchamadeu delivery.
Ivory Coast continued to create. Diallo’s inviting cross found Vakoun Bayo unmarked, but the header went over.
Just before the break, Diallo was in again, only for captain Nouhou Tolo to slide in with a perfectly timed tackle to deny him.
The second half began at a frantic pace. Franck Kessie thought he had scored, only to be flagged offside, while Danny Namaso hit the woodwork at the other end.
Then came Diallo’s breakthrough, quickly followed by Cameroon’s reply, moments that captured the spirit of a rivalry that has rarely disappointed.
Encounters between these two have always carried weight, and this was no different.
From their first AFCON meeting in 1970 to penalty shoot-outs and narrow wins, the Elephants and Indomitable Lions have long defined each other.
The match drew a notable crowd of 35,165, including French stars Kylian Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Jules Koundé, with CAF president Patrice Motsepe also in attendance.
Earlier in the day, Mozambique shook the group by edging Gabon 3–2 to claim their first-ever AFCON victory, moving to three points and leaving Gabon bottom without one.
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With qualification still wide open, Group F will be decided on Wednesday night. Ivory Coast face Gabon while Cameroon meet Mozambique, both matches kicking off at 22:00 EAT, with everything still to play for.
