THE 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continued to deliver a compelling blend of star quality, historic breakthroughs and high-stakes drama as holders Ivory Coast were held by Cameroon, Algeria sealed early qualification, and Mozambique and Sudan kept their knockout hopes alive with landmark victories.
News Point Nigeria Sports reports that in Marrakech, Manchester United forward Amad Diallo once again proved decisive for defending champions Ivory Coast, scoring his second goal of the tournament in a pulsating 1-1 draw against Cameroon in a clash befitting two continental heavyweights.
The much-anticipated Group F encounter lived up to expectations, with Amad breaking the deadlock six minutes into the second half after latching onto a sweeping counter-attack. Collecting a precise crossfield pass from Ghislain Konan, the winger cut inside and curled a stunning effort into the far corner of Devis Epassy’s net, a finish of the highest quality that underlined his growing influence at the tournament.
However, Cameroon responded swiftly. Just minutes later, Junior Tchamadeu struck a deflected equaliser to restore parity, capping a frenetic spell of second-half action that followed a tense but absorbing first period. Earlier, Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie had seen a deft finish ruled out for offside, while Cameroon’s Danny Namaso rattled the crossbar after a double deflection.
The draw leaves both Ivory Coast and Cameroon a point clear at the top of Group F and officially eliminated Gabon, setting up a dramatic final round of matches on Wednesday when the Elephants face Gabon and the Indomitable Lions take on Mozambique.
Elsewhere, Algeria confirmed their status as one of the tournament favourites by booking a place in the last 16 with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in Rabat. Captain Riyad Mahrez made the difference, calmly converting a first-half penalty in a fiercely contested encounter at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
The Desert Foxes showed maturity and defensive solidity to protect their lead in a bruising contest, extending their perfect start in Group E to six points from two matches without conceding a goal. As former champions in 1990 and 2019, Algeria’s assured progress under coach Vladimir Petkovic has reinforced expectations of a deep run.
“We fought very hard and the most important thing is that we won,” said man-of-the-match Ibrahim Maza. “Qualification was the main goal, and we achieved it.”
With Burkina Faso and Sudan both on three points, Algeria are guaranteed top spot even ahead of their final group game against Equatorial Guinea and will play their last-16 tie in Rabat on January 6.
In Agadir, Mozambique produced one of the tournament’s most emotional moments by ending a 39-year wait for their first AFCON victory, edging Gabon 3-2 in a thrilling Group F contest. The Mambas, ranked 24 places below their opponents, played with belief and attacking intent, with goals from Faisal Bangal, Geny Catamo and Diogo Calila sealing a famous win.
Bangal opened the scoring with a towering header from a corner, while Catamo and Calila ensured Mozambique stayed ahead despite spirited responses from Gabon, who scored through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alex Moussounda. The result keeps Mozambique firmly in contention for qualification heading into the final group round.
Meanwhile, Sudan boosted their knockout hopes in Group E with a rare and vital 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea in Casablanca. The decisive moment came in the 74th minute when a Sudan free-kick caused confusion in the opposition defence, resulting in an unfortunate own goal by Torino defender Saul Coco.
The victory marked only Sudan’s second AFCON win since their historic triumph in 1970 and carried added significance given the ongoing conflict that has devastated the country since 2023. Now on three points, Kwesi Appiah’s side will face Burkina Faso in a decisive final group match as they chase just their second knockout appearance in over five decades.
As the group stage edges toward its climax, the Africa Cup of Nations continues to showcase its unique character — where elite stars deliver moments of brilliance, traditional powerhouses assert their pedigree, and underdogs rise to challenge the established order. With qualification still at stake across multiple groups, the drama in Morocco is far from over.