AFCON 2025: Kofane and Touré score in dramatic group stage finale

The group stage of the 35th African Cup of Nations concluded on Wednesday. The Round of 16 matchups are now decided, but the tournament will take a two-day break before resuming action on Saturday.

Cameroon thought they finished top of the last group before a late turnaround in the game between Côte d'Ivoire and Gabon. Bayer Leverkusen’s striker Christian Kofane only made his international debut on matchday two against Côte d'Ivoire, but he provided the spark for Cameroon on his second appearance.

The 19-year-old scored the winner with a powerful hit from outside the box in a come-from-behind win over Mozambique. Stanley Ratifo, who is playing for Chemie Leipzig in the Regionalliga Nordost, started Mozambique’s last two group stage games.

However, Côte d'Ivoire came from behind twice before winning it in injury-time against Gabon. The defending champions have two sought-after Bundesliga youngsters in their ranks. While RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande started all three games, Bazoumana Touré had to wait until tonight for his tournament debut.

TSG Hoffenheim’s emerging star makes the most of his opportunity, though. The 19-year-old scored the winner in the 91st minute with a brilliant header to help Côte d'Ivoire leapfrog Cameroon in the standings of Group F. Touré is the ninth Bundesliga player to score in the ongoing tournament in Morocco.

The last goal of the group stage meant Kofane would not go head-to-head against his Leverkusen teammate Edmond Tapsoba. Burkina Faso will now play Côte d'Ivoire, while the five-time winners face South Africa on Sunday. Another giant will await Mozambique in the first round of the knockout stage with a duel against Nigeria.