Substitute Bazoumana Toure secured a dramatic 3-2 win for Ivory Coast against Gabon in the Africa Cup of Nations, to qualify for the round of 16 as Group F winners.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations
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Match Report
Gabon, who were without the injured Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, had little to play for but almost sprung a shock, but Ivory Coast fought to the end.
It was a poor start for Alban Lafont as he spilled Teddy Averlant's angled shot from the right in the 11th minute, and Guelor Kanga pounced to fire home the rebound.
And just 10 minutes later, Gabon doubled their lead as Kanga's cross deflected to the unmarked Denis Bouanga, who bent an excellent strike into the bottom-right corner.
Ivory Coast upped the pressure after that, with Oumar Diakate rattling the right post, but just one minute before the break, the reigning champions halved the deficit. Wilfried Zaha was not picked up on the left, and he squared it to Kean-Philippe Krasso to turn home.
Clench Loufilou and Teddy Averlant both fired just over for Gabon after the break, but those missed chances were eventually punished in the 84th minute when Evann Guessand thumped in a towering header to equalise.
And just when it looked like the game was heading to a draw, Toure got in front of his defender to flick his header past Francois Bekale to secure all three points.
But there was more late drama as Ousmane Diomande slotted into an empty net, only for his stoppage-time effort to be disallowed for offside.
Ivory Coast's late winner meant that Cameroon had to settle for second place in the group on goals scored, despite coming from behind to earn a 2-1 win over Mozambique, with Christian Kofame scoring the winning goal.
Data Debrief: Ivory Coast show their quality
Considering Emerse Fae's side finished the game with 1.79 expected goals (xG) to Gabon's 0.87 xG, he would have been disappointed to walk away from this game empty-handed.
Ivory Coast finished with 21 shots overall, though only got five on target as they struggled to test Bekale in Gabon's goal.
Christopher Operi got the assists for the late goals, which is the least he deserved after creating a game-high six chances and playing 12 crosses.
Gabon, meanwhile, lost all three of their group games, doing so for the first time since their first three matches in the competition between 1994 and 1996.
Line-ups
Gabon XI: Lemina, André Poko, Guélor Kanga, Ndong, Denis Bouanga, Teddy Averlant, Jérémy Oyono, Alex Moucketou-Moussounda, Jacques Ekomié, Mick Omfia, François Bekale
Subs: Manga, Obiang, Aaron Appindangoyé, Malick Evouna, Clench Loufilou, Eric Bocoum, Anthony Oyono, Yannis M'Bemba, Shavy Babicka, Loyce Mbaba, Royce Openda, Samaké Nzé Bagnama, Edlin Randy Essang-Matouti, Anse Ngoubi Demba, Jonathan Do Marcolino
Côte d'Ivoire XI: Zaha, Seri, Kessie, Christopher Operi, Jean-Philippe Krasso, Alban Lafont, Emmanuel Agbadou, Armel Zohouri, Oumar Diakité, Ousmane Diomande, Christ Inao Oulaï
Subs: Boly, S.Fofana, Gbamin, Sangare, Ghislain Konan, Yahia Fofana, N'Dicka, Evann Guessand, Odilon, Guela Doué, Amad Diallo Traore, Mohamed Koné, Bazoumana Touré, Yan Diomande