Cameroon and defending champions Côte d’Ivoire shared the spoils in a pulsating 1–1 draw in their second Group F fixture at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
At the end of 90 minutes, neither side could find a decisive edge in a gripping encounter in Marrakesh.
Junior Tchamadeu’s deflected effort midway through the second half cancelled out a moment of brilliance from Amad Diallo, whose stunning opener had put the Ivorians ahead in a contest rich in quality, intensity and goal-mouth action.
The opening exchanges were tight and tactical, with both sides showing caution. Cameroon came close to breaking the deadlock after 20 minutes when Christian Kofane rose highest to meet a cross from the left, only to see his header crash against the crossbar.
Côte d’Ivoire believed they had gone into the break infront when captain Franck Kessié volleyed home from close range, but celebrations were cut short as the goal was ruled out for offside against Vakoun Issouf Bayo’s assist in the build-up.
The match burst into life after the restart. End-to-end football defined the opening minutes of the second half, before Diallo produced a moment of magic to open the scoring.
The Manchester United forward collected the ball on the right, cut inside onto his favoured left foot and curled a sublime effort beyond the outstretched dive of goalkeeper Devis Epassy.
Cameroon responded swiftly. Just five minutes later, Tchamadeu struck from inside the box, his effort taking a wicked deflection off Ghislain Konan to wrong-foot the goalkeeper and restore parity for the Indomitable Lions.
With the scores level, both teams pushed in search of a winner. Bryan Mbeumo was well marshalled by the Ivorian defence, his closest attempt coming from a free-kick that narrowly missed the target from the edge of the area.
Despite late pressure at both ends, neither side could force a breakthrough.
The draw leaves both Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire level on four points, with identical goals scored and conceded.
Attention now turns to the final round of decisive group matches on New Year’s Eve, with Cameroon travelling back to Agadir to face Mozambique, while the defending champions remain in Marrakesh to take on already eliminated Gabon.
