Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon once again delivered a contest worthy of their heavyweight status at the Africa Cup of Nations, playing out a thrilling draw in their second Group F fixture that kept the group wide open.
The meeting was the ninth between the two nations at AFCON finals — one of the most frequent rivalries in the competition’s history — and it lived up to expectations from the opening whistle.
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Côte d’Ivoire, winners of two of the last three AFCON titles alongside Cameroon, set the early tempo and almost took the lead inside two minutes when Konan’s cross narrowly missed the target.
The Elephants dominated possession and territory in the early stages, forcing corners and pinning Cameroon back, but the Indomitable Lions remained dangerous on the counterattack.
Amad Diallo curled an effort wide before Cameroon threatened through Yongwa, whose back-post volley struck the side netting after a precise delivery from Tchamadeu. Kessié later fired over as both teams exchanged attacks in an open, end-to-end first half.
Cameroon came closest before the break when Kofane diverted a near-post cross onto the crossbar, while Côte d’Ivoire wasted another gilt-edged chance as Bayo headed over from Amad’s inviting delivery. Despite ending goalless, the first half crackled with intensity, with Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo emerging as the most influential attacking outlets.
The second half began in similar fashion. Côte d’Ivoire thought they had broken the deadlock when Kessié turned home Bayo’s knockdown, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Cameroon then struck the woodwork again as Namaso’s deflected effort crashed off the bar, underlining the fine margins in the contest.
The breakthrough finally arrived when Konan released Amad Diallo down the right flank.
The winger cut inside onto his favoured left foot and curled a superb strike into the far corner, scoring his second goal of AFCON 2025 and giving Côte d’Ivoire a deserved lead.
Cameroon responded swiftly.
Kafode switched play to Tchamadeu, whose first-time effort took a significant deflection and looped beyond the goalkeeper to restore parity just minutes later. The equaliser sparked a frantic final phase, with chances at both ends as the game opened up.
Fofana forced a close-range save, while Mbeumo went agonisingly close from a late free-kick. Kessié, briefly requiring treatment for a calf knock, returned to help drive Côte d’Ivoire forward as they pressed for a winner through a series of corners, but Cameroon’s defence held firm.
In the end, neither side could find a decisive goal in a high-quality encounter that reflected the balance between two AFCON heavyweights.
Côte d’Ivoire now turn their attention to Gabon, while Cameroon prepare to face Mozambique as Group F remains finely poised.
