The current champions, Ivory Coast, will begin their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a crucial Group F match against Mozambique on Wednesday, December 24, at Marrakech’s Grand Stadium, aiming for a strong start as they defend their title in Morocco.
This opening fixture offers both teams a golden chance to seize early momentum in a challenging group that features Cameroon and Gabon, where a commanding result could pave the way to the knockout rounds.
Ivory Coast enters the tournament under the spotlight, still basking in the glory of their dramatic 2–1 victory over Nigeria in the last AFCON final on home soil. That triumph, their third continental crown, cemented their reputation as African football royalty. Now, the Elephants return with history in their sights, hoping to become the first team since Egypt in 2010 to defend the title.
Their preparation for AFCON 2025 has been largely convincing, with Emerse Fae’s side recording four wins, one draw, and one defeat in their final six competitive matches before the tournament, scoring 13 goals and conceding just once, ending their build-up with a 2-0 international friendly victory over Oman after previously suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia.
In World Cup qualification, the Elephants produced emphatic performances, including 9-0 and 7-0 home and away victories against Seychelles, a 3-0 win over Kenya, a goalless draw away to Gabon, and a 1-0 home success against Burundi, finishing their qualifying matches with 25 goals scored and none conceded.
Ivory Coast’s path to AFCON 2025 was marked by steady consistency, finishing just behind Zambia to secure its spot in the finals. Their reliable form has fueled confidence ahead of the opener, even as they contend with the late blow of losing star striker Sebastien Haller to injury.
The return of seasoned talents like Wilfried Zaha and the steady leadership of midfield maestro Franck Kessie have kept the squad balanced. Yet, the omission of Sunderland’s Simon Adingra, a breakout star from the 2023 triumph, has raised eyebrows.
Historically, Ivory Coast hold a clear advantage over Mozambique in competitive meetings, having never lost to their opponents across seven meetings in all competitions, winning five and drawing two while scoring 13 goals and conceding just two, with their most meetings during the 2022 World Cup qualification campaign when Ivory Coast earned a goalless draw away in Maputo before recording a 3-0 home victory.
Mozambique steps into AFCON 2025 as underdogs eager to rewrite the script, opening their campaign against the reigning champions. After finishing second to Mali in qualifying, they have earned consecutive AFCON appearances and are steadily climbing the ranks of African football.
In their last six competitive matches, the Mambas recorded two wins, one draw, and three defeats, scoring seven goals and conceding nine, including a defeat to Morocco in a November international friendly, followed by a 2-2 draw with Chad shortly after.
In World Cup qualification, Mozambique claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Somalia and a 2-0 victory against Botswana but suffered defeats to Guinea and Uganda, exposing defensive vulnerabilities against stronger opposition.
Chiquinho Conde’s quade have yet to break through the group stage barrier in their AFCON history, despite five previous appearances. While their 2025 qualification signals steady progress, the real test lies in turning that consistency into results when it matters most.e.
Mozambique’s squad features 42-year-old winger Dominguez, whose appearance would make him the second-oldest player ever at the finals, just behind Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who played at age 44 in 2017.
This Mozambique squad strikes a balance between seasoned veterans and emerging talent. Defender Mexer anchors the backline with leadership, joined by Sunderland’s Reinildo, while dynamic attackers like Geny Catamo are poised to inject energy and flair.
