Ivory Coast and Cameroon prepare for a momentous heavyweight clash this Sunday in Marrakesh, with the winner set to secure early passage to the knockout stages and a commanding lead in Group F.
Both continental giants opened their AFCON 2025 campaigns with narrow 1-0 victories; the Elephants controlled their opener against Mozambique through an Amad Diallo strike, while the Indomitable Lions relied on an early Karl Etta Eyong goal to edge past Gabon. As the two winning sides of Matchday 1 meet, the stakes are simple: victory guarantees a spot in the Round of 16.
Match details: Time and Venue
The fixture is the undisputed standout of the group stage, bringing two of Africa’s most successful footballing cultures to the red city of Marrakesh.
- Date: Sunday, 28 December 2025
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT (21:00 local time)
- Venue: Stade de Marrakech, Marrakesh
AFCON 2025: Schedule, results and standings of the Africa Cup of Nations
Where to watch the game globally
Broadcasting reach for this clash is extensive, ensuring fans in over 180 territories can catch the action:
- UK: Channel 4 (Free-to-air) on 4Seven and the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel.
- USA & Canada: beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español; streaming via Fubo and Fanatiz.
- Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport (English/Portuguese) and Canal+ Afrique (French).
- North Africa & MENA: beIN SPORTS MENA.
- South Africa: SABC and the SABC+ app.
- Australia & NZ: beIN SPORTS CONNECT.
Team news
Ivory Coast manager Emerse Faé has a largely healthy squad, though he faces a tactical dilemma in the attack. While Wilfried Zaha started as the central striker against Mozambique, he was replaced by Vakoun Bayo after a quiet performance. Amad Diallo is certain to keep his place on the wing after his match-winning heroics, while the experienced Jean-Michael Seri is expected to anchor the midfield alongside captain Franck Kessié.
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇨🇮 1-0 🇲🇿
The Elephants begin their title-defending campaign in the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 with a win. pic.twitter.com/5qk2CIPq8L
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 24, 2025
Cameroon, under David Pagou, continues to operate without first-choice goalkeeper André Onana due to ongoing federation issues. Devis Epassy will remain in goal following his clean sheet against Gabon. The Indomitable Lions are expected to persist with a 3-5-2 system, leaning on the energy of Brighton’s Carlos Baleba in midfield and the dual threat of Bryan Mbeumo and Karl Etta Eyong up front.
Heavyweight history: by the numbers
When the Elephants and Lions meet, history is never far away. This fixture pits the defending champions against the five-time winners in a matchup defined by razor-thin margins:
- Title Defense: Ivory Coast is aiming to become the first nation to successfully defend an AFCON title since Egypt completed their famous “three-peat” in 2010.
- Head-to-Head Balance: Across 21 previous competitive meetings, Ivory Coast holds the narrowest of leads with 10 wins to Cameroon’s 9, with only two matches ever ending in a draw.
- Defensive dominance: Both teams enter this match having not conceded a goal in the tournament. In fact, Ivory Coast has conceded only one goal in their last six competitive matches.
- Premier League factor: The match features a wealth of English top-flight talent, including Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangaré, and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
- Knockout Omens: Historically, these two have specialized in “chess match” football; 11 of Ivory Coast’s last 15 matches against top-tier African opposition have resulted in fewer than two goals.
With the group lead on the line, Emerse Faé is bracing for a battle:
“Cameroon has a pedigree that you cannot ignore. They are efficient and disciplined. We were wasteful against Mozambique, but against the Lions, you only get one or two chances. We must be clinical if we want to secure our place in the next round tomorrow.”
