Defending champions Côte d'Ivoire launched their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations title defense with a solid 1-0 victory over Mozambique at Marrakech Stadium.
Meanwhile, Cameroon made history with a groundbreaking 1-0 win against Gabon in Agadir, marking their first-ever AFCON victory over their rivals.
The Indomitable Lions struck early, just six minutes in, when Bryan Mbeumo seized on a shaky Gabonese defence and set up Karl Etta Eyong, who finished low through goalkeeper Marius Mbamba’s legs.
Cameroon looked sharper initially, while Gabon struggled to gain momentum. Denis Bouanga came close, but a last-minute tackle prevented Darlin Yongwa from extending Cameroon’s lead.
As the match progressed, Cameroon adapted their defence smartly, keeping Gabon at bay even as it pressed late for an equaliser.
This disciplined victory puts Cameroon alongside Côte d’Ivoire at the top of Group F.
Bryan Mbeumo, Man of the Match: “I’m thrilled. We knew Gabon would be tough, but we need to be ready for Côte d’Ivoire next. We stayed focused, defended well, and earned this result.”
Cédric Moubamba, Gabon assistant coach: “Our slow start made the match challenging. Cameroon played well and defended their lead effectively. We’ll regroup and improve for the next game.”
David Pagou, Cameroon coach: “It was hard work. We secured the three points and showed flexibility in our play. There’s room for improvement, but we’ll continue to grow.”
Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Mozambique:
Côte d’Ivoire began their title defence with a 1-0 win over Mozambique, relying on patience rather than flair. After a tense first half, Amad Diallo scored the decisive goal just after the interval, finishing a setup from Kessié.
The Ivorians dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a well-organised Mozambique side, who found it tough to test goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
The narrow win positions Côte d’Ivoire atop Group F, while Mozambique leaves encouraged but still searching for their first-ever victory at the finals.
Scorer Amad Diallo, Côte d’Ivoire: “I’m proud to wear my country’s jersey; it’s a dream come true. While we won 1-0, I felt we could have scored more. We’ll focus on our next tough match.”
Chiquinho Conde, Mozambique: “We expected challenges against Côte d’Ivoire’s quality but managed to hold our ground. We’ll learn from this experience.”
