Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Match Preview
A clash of African titans takes center stage at the Stade de Marrakech on Sunday, 28 December 2025. This Group F showdown pits the defending champions, Ivory Coast, against the five-time winners, Cameroon. Both sides opened their campaigns with narrow 1–0 victories—Ivory Coast edging Mozambique and Cameroon scraping past Gabon—leaving them level on 3 points at the top of the group.
However, the mood in the two camps could not be more different. The Elephants are riding a wave of stability and confidence, bolstered by the return of veteran Wilfried Zaha. In stark contrast, the Indomitable Lions are navigating a tournament fueled by internal chaos, with a disputed squad list and the shock omission of key stars like André Onana and Vincent Aboubakar by the federation. This match will determine who takes control of the “Group of Death.”
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Match Info
- Competition: AFCON 2025 (Group Stage – Matchday 2)
- Venue: Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech (Capacity: 45,240)
- Date: Sunday, 28 December 2025
- Kickoff: 20:00 GMT | 21:00 WAT | 16:00 ET
- Referee: TBC (CAF Appointment)
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Match Stakes
Ivory Coast (2nd — 3 pts):
- Win → Moves to 6 pts; all but secures qualification to the Round of 16 as group leaders
- Draw → Keeps them level with Cameroon; leaves top spot to be decided on final day
- Loss → Drops to 2nd; risks a tougher knockout draw against a group winner
Cameroon (1st — 3 pts):
- Win → Moves to 6 pts; silences the off-field critics and asserts dominance
- Draw → A massive result given the squad turmoil; keeps destiny in their own hands
- Loss → Vulnerable to being caught by Gabon/Mozambique; pressure mounts on interim boss David Pagou
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Team News
Ivory Coast:
- Wilfried Zaha — Available (Returned to squad, looked sharp vs Mozambique)
- Sebastien Haller — Available (Key target man)
- Wilfried Singo — Out (Injury – left out of final squad)
- Simon Adingra — Out (Omitted from tournament squad)
- Franck Kessié — Available (Captain & Midfield General)
Cameroon:
- André Onana — Out (Excluded from squad)
- Vincent Aboubakar — Out (Excluded from squad)
- Zambo Anguissa — Out (Injury)
- Bryan Mbeumo — Available (The new talisman of the team)
- Carlos Baleba — Available (Midfield engine)
- Eric Choupo-Moting — Out (Excluded)
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
Ivory Coast
- 24/12 — 1–0 vs Mozambique (AFCON)
- 18/11 — 2–0 vs Oman (Friendly)
- 14/11 — 0–1 vs Saudi Arabia (Friendly)
- 15/10 — 3–0 vs Kenya (WC Qualifier)
- 10/10 — 7–0 vs Seychelles (WC Qualifier)
Cameroon
- 25/12 — 1–0 vs Gabon (AFCON)
- 14/11 — 0–1 vs D.R. Congo (WC Qualifier)
- 13/10 — 0–0 vs Angola (WC Qualifier)
- 08/10 — 2–0 vs Mauritius (WC Qualifier)
- 09/09 — 0–1 vs Cape Verde (WC Qualifier)
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)
- 07/01/2023 — Ivory Coast 1–1 Cameroon (Friendly)
- 17/11/2021 — Cameroon 1–0 Ivory Coast (WC Qualifier)
- 07/09/2021 — Ivory Coast 2–1 Cameroon (WC Qualifier)
- 30/01/2016 — Cameroon 0–3 Ivory Coast (CHAN)
- 28/01/2015 — Cameroon 0–1 Ivory Coast (AFCON)
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
Ivory Coast (4-3-3)
Fofana; Konan, Ndicka, Kossounou, Aurier; Seri, Kessie, Sangare; Zaha, Haller, Diallo
Cameroon (4-2-3-1)
Epassy; Tolo, Wooh, Castelletto, Tchatchoua; Baleba, Ntcham; Bassogog, Hongla, Mbeumo; Magri
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Impact Bench
Ivory Coast: Diakité (Pace on wing), Krasso (Goalscorer vs Mozambique)
Cameroon: Nkoudou (Creative spark), Moumbagna (Physical presence)
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Tactical Analysis
Ivory Coast
Emerse Faé’s side plays with controlled aggression. With the return of Jean-Michaël Seri and Franck Kessié controlling the tempo, they will look to dominate possession. The inclusion of Wilfried Zaha gives them a chaotic element on the wing that was missing in previous months. They will target Cameroon’s makeshift leadership structure, knowing the Lions are missing their vocal leaders (Aboubakar, Onana).
Cameroon
Under interim coach David Pagou, Cameroon are forced to be pragmatic. Without their usual superstars, they are relying on the Premier League quality of Bryan Mbeumo and Carlos Baleba. Expect them to sit deeper than usual, absorbing Ivory Coast’s pressure and looking to hit on the counter-attack using the speed of Christian Bassogog. Their 1–0 win over Gabon was gritty rather than pretty, and a similar defensive display is needed here.
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Key Battles
- Haller vs Wooh — Aerial dominance vs young defender
- Kessie vs Baleba — Battle of the midfield powerhouses
- Zaha vs Tolo — Trickery vs defensive grit
- Mbeumo vs Konan — Cameroon’s best attacker vs Ivory Coast’s solid LB
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Spotlight Players
Ivory Coast — Amad Diallo
The young winger has been electric for club and country. With Adingra left at home, Diallo has the stage to himself. His ability to cut inside and link with Haller will be key to unlocking a stubborn Cameroon defense.
Cameroon — Bryan Mbeumo
With Aboubakar and Choupo-Moting gone, Mbeumo is the undisputed star. He carries the weight of a nation on his shoulders. His set-piece delivery and finishing ability are Cameroon’s best hope of snatching a result.
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Prediction
Ivory Coast 2–0 Cameroon
While Cameroon showed resilience in their opener, the absence of their spine (Onana, Anguissa, Aboubakar) is too big a handicap against a settled, high-quality Ivory Coast side. The Elephants have the depth, the experience, and the momentum to exploit Cameroon’s internal turmoil and seal their place in the knockouts.
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Betting Insights
- Ivory Coast to Win — High Probability
- Under 2.5 Goals — Likely (Tight group game)
- Sebastien Haller to Score — Yes
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — Where to Watch
- Africa: SuperSport, Canal+ Afrique, New World TV
- UK: Sky Sports Football / BBC Three
- International: beIN Sports (USA/MENA)
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon — FAQs
Q: When is the Ivory Coast vs Cameroon match?
A: The match kicks off on Sunday, 28 December 2025, at 20:00 GMT.
Q: Why is André Onana not playing?
A: He was excluded from the Cameroon squad by the federation in a controversial decision prior to the tournament.
Q: Who is the favorite?
A: Ivory Coast are favorites due to their superior squad depth and Cameroon’s missing key players.
Q: Where is the match being played?
A: It will be played at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Who wins the Battle of the Lions and Elephants?
If you enjoyed this preview, follow SportsphereArena.com for post-match ratings and AFCON updates.
Stay connected for real-time updates from Morocco.
Stay informed. Stay analytical. Stay in the game.
👇 Comment your score prediction below 👇
