AFCON Roundup: Côte d’Ivoire Top Group F as Burkina Faso, Algeria, Cameroon, and Sudan Progress
Côte d’Ivoire secured top spot in Group F with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Gabon, overcoming a 2-0 deficit. Bazoumana Touré scored a stoppage-time header to complete the comeback, earning Côte d’Ivoire seven points in the group. Gabon, after leading 2-0 through goals from Guélor Kanga and Denis Bouanga, were eliminated following this second matchday.
In other Group F action, Cameroon defeated Mozambique 2-1 thanks to a winning strike from 19-year-old Christian Kofane of Bayer Leverkusen, who had previously delayed national-team call-ups to concentrate on his Bundesliga season. Nené’s own goal had equalised for Cameroon after Geny Catamo’s opener for Mozambique. Cameroon finished with six points and will face South Africa in the last 16.
In Group E, Burkina Faso beat Sudan 2-0 in Casablanca, securing second place in the group. Lassina Traoré scored with a header and Arsène Kouassi added a finish assisted by Dango Ouattara, despite Sudan missing a penalty earlier in the match. Algeria won Group E with a perfect record, defeating Equatorial Guinea 3-1 with goals from Belaïd, Chaïbi, and Maza, while Nsue scored for Equatorial Guinea. Algeria will face DR Congo in the last 16.
Equatorial Guinea finished at the bottom of Group E without gaining any points. Sudan progressed as one of the four best third-placed teams and will face Senegal in Tangier in the last 16.
