Ivory Coast v Cameroon live: Freak own goal denies reigning champions victory in battle of Afcon heavyweights
Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon: An unfortunate own goal from Ghislain Konan cancelled out Amad’s superb opener to give both sides a point in Marrakesh
Defending champions Ivory Coast were forced to share the spoils with fellow contenders Cameroon as a thrilling clash of Africa Cup of Nations heavyweights lived up to expectations.
After neither side could convert their chances before half-time, Manchester United winger Amad Diallo broke the deadlock in brilliant fashion as he curled his effort into the top corner in the 51st minute.
Ivory Coast's advantage would last just five minutes, however, with Junior Tchamadeu's effort taking a wicked deflection off Ghislain Konan to fortuitously fly beyond Ivorian goalkeeper Yahia Fofana and level things for Cameroon.
Both sides pushed for a winner, with Bryan Mbeumo coming close with a free-kick, but it ended all square to keep things precariously open in Group F going into the final round of fixtures.
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Ivory Coast and Cameroon share spoils in clash of Afcon heavyweights after freak own goal
Manchester United's Amad Diallo was on target but Cameroon hit back to hold Ivory Coast to a 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations clash in Marrakesh.
Amad put Ivory Coast ahead after 51 minutes of the Group F encounter when he raced onto a long ball from deep and curled in a shot from the edge of the area.
The lead lasted just five minutes as Junior Tchamadeu's shot took a wicked deflection off Ghislain Konan and looped into the net.
Ivory Coast and Cameroon share spoils in clash of Afcon heavyweights
Afcon key dates
The group stages run from Sunday 21 December to Wednesday 31 December, while the knockout stages begin on Saturday 3 January.
The semi-finals take place on Wednesday, 14 January, while the final will be played on Sunday, 18 January at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Who has qualified so far?
Only three sides have definitely secured qualification so far, with Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria all taking their places in the round of 16.
The following nations are currently sitting top of their respective groups ahead of the final round of games:
Group A - Morocco
Group D - Senegal
Group F - Cameroon
All of the top two sides qualify automatically, with the four third-placed sides with the best records also advancing.
Afcon fixtures
Here’s a list of the rest of the group stage fixtures, with the tournament resuming after the New Year with the round of 16.
Monday, December 29, 2025
Angola v Egypt | 4:00 PM | Le Grand Stade Agadir, Agadir, Morocco
Zimbabwe v South Africa | 4:00 PM | Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Comoros v Mali | 7:00 PM | Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco
Zambia v Morocco | 7:00 PM | Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat, Morocco
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Tanzania v Tunisia | 4:00 PM | Stade Olympique de Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
Uganda v Nigeria | 4:00 PM | Complexe Sportif de Fès, Fès, Morocco
Benin v Senegal | 7:00 PM | Stade Ibn-Batouta, Tangier, Morocco
Botswana v Congo DR | 7:00 PM | Stade El Barid, Rabat, Morocco
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Equatorial Guinea v Algeria | 4:00 PM | Stade Prince Moulay Al Hassan, Rabat, Morocco
Sudan v Burkina Faso | 4:00 PM | Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco
Gabon v Ivory Coast | 7:00 PM | Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Mozambique v Cameroon | 7:00 PM | Le Grand Stade Agadir, Agadir, Morocco
Next up
Both sides face their final matches of the group stage next then.
Both games take place on new Year’s Eve, with Ivory Coast facing Gabon and Cameroon taking on Mozambique. Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm BST for both fixtures.
Group F table
Here’s how the table looks in Group F then:
1. Cameroon – 4pts (P2 W1 D1 L0 GD+1)
2. Côte d’Ivoire – 4pts (P2 W1 D1 L0 GD+1)
3. Mozambique – 3pts (P2 W1 D0 L1 GD0)
4. Gabon – 0pts (P2 W0 D0 L2 GD-2)
FULL-TIME! Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon
The referee brings the match to an end and it’s a point each for Cameroon and the Ivory Coast, with both sides producing a thoroughly entertaining match but neither able to earn the win.
It means both will need to be at their best once more in the final group games in order to secure top spot.
Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon
90 +2 mins
Ivory Coast win a corner with just over 90 seconds remaining.
Diomande delivers but Inao can’t make anything of it, before Cameroon counter at pace.
Bassogog threads it through into the path of Mbeumo, who fires a shot that is blocked brilliantly by a sliding Kossounou.
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