Ivory Coast completed a remarkable turnaround at the Africa Cup of Nations, coming from two goals down to defeat Gabon 3-2 and finish top of Group F. The defending champions entered the final group game under pressure, knowing only a strong result would guarantee first place, as previewed by SoftFootball. What followed was one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament.
Gabon, already eliminated, stunned the Elephants by racing into a 2-0 lead inside 21 minutes. Guélor Kanga opened the scoring after a defensive lapse before Denis Bouanga doubled the advantage with a fine first-time finish.
Ivory Coast looked rattled, but they found a lifeline just before the break when Wilfried Zaha squared for Jean-Philippe Krasso to tap home. That goal shifted momentum and echoed the resilience Ivory Coast had shown earlier in the group, including their hard-fought draw with Cameroon, as reported by SoftFootball.
The second half saw Ivory Coast dominate possession and territory, though clear chances were initially wasted. Gabon missed two golden opportunities to restore their two-goal cushion, and those misses proved costly. Emerse Faé turned to his bench, introducing Amad Diallo, Evann Guessand and teenage forward Bazoumana Touré to inject urgency and energy.
The equaliser arrived in the 84th minute when Christopher Opéri delivered a pinpoint corner and Guessand powered a header into the net. Just when it seemed the match would end level, Ivory Coast struck again.
In the 91st minute, Opéri swung in another dangerous cross, and 18-year-old Bazoumana Touré rose highest to head home the winner, completing an astonishing comeback. Yan Diomande even had a fourth ruled out for offside moments later.
The victory shared on their official X account secured top spot in Group F on goals scored ahead of Cameroon, with both teams advancing to the round of 16. Mozambique also progressed as one of the best third-placed sides, while Gabon exited winless, suffering three defeats in a single AFCON tournament for the first time since 1994.
For Ivory Coast, it was a statement of character and belief, restoring confidence as the knockout stage approaches.
