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Côte d’Ivoire came from two goals down to beat already eliminated Gabon 3-2 in Group F at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday as the teenager Bazoumana Touré’s headed winner in added time in Marrakech handed them top spot in the pool.
The Ivorians finished on seven points from their three games, ahead of Cameroon on goal difference after the latter beat third-placed Mozambique.
Gabon were eliminated after the second matchday after successive defeats and were without their injured talisman, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but first-half goals from Guélor Kanga and Denis Bouanga gave them a 2-0 lead.
Emerse Faé’s side pulled a goal back through Jean-Philippe Krasso, then forced an equaliser via Evann Guessand with six minutes remaining before Touré sealed the win that sets up a last-16 game against Burkina Faso in Marrakech next Tuesday.
Christian Kofane announced his arrival on the international stage with a stunning winner as Cameroon came from behind to beat Mozambique 2-1.
The 19-year-old from Bayer Leverkusen was making only his second appearance for the Indomitable Lions, having turned down call-ups earlier this season to concentrate on his first Bundesliga season where he has already been making an impact. Cameroon allowed him to stay at Leverkusen until the eve of the tournament in Morocco with his first caps much anticipated.
Mozambique went ahead in the 23rd minute through Geny Catamo but Cameroon equalised five minutes later through a Nené own goal.
After squandering several half chances early on, Kofane thrashed home a rocket-like effort from the edge of the area in the 55th minute to win the game. Five-time Cup of Nations winners Cameroon finished with six points but behind Côte d’Ivoire on goals scored.
Cameroon will now play South Africa on Sunday, while Mozambique face Nigeria on Monday.
Burkina Faso booked second place in Group E with a 2-0 win over Sudan in Casablanca, with goals from Lassina Traoré and Arsène Kouassi as their opponents squandered a penalty.
Traoré put Burkina Faso ahead after 16 minutes, rising to meet a looping cross from Stephane Aziz Ki and steering his header inside the far post. Sudan squandered a golden chance to level when Hervé Koffi, Burkina Faso’s goalkeeper, fouled Al-Jezoli Nouh in the box, only for him to drag the resulting penalty wide.
That miss was compounded by further wasted opportunities, and Burkina Faso made sure of the points as Kouassi raced on to a pass from Dango Ouattara and slipped the ball past the goalkeeper from 15 yards.
Burkina Faso finished on six points from three matches, three behind the group winners, Algeria, who advance with a perfect record. Sudan, meanwhile, progress as one of the four best third-placed teamsand face a daunting test against 2021 champions, Senegal, in Tangier on Saturday.
Algeria kept up their winning run at the finals, making it three out of three in Group E as they beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 to affirm their status among the tournament favourites.
Goals in the first half from Zineddine Belaïd, Farès Chaïbi and Ibrahim Maza secured a comfortable victory for a second-string side at the Stade Moula El Hassan, with veteran Emilio Nsue pulling one back for Equatorial Guinea after the break.
Algeria were already confirmed as group winners after beating Burkina Faso on Sunday to set up a last-16 meeting with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, enabling them to make nine changes for Wednesday’s game.
Equatorial Guinea finished last in Group E without any points, unable to reprise their giant killing heroics of the previous tournament.
