AFCON 2025 - Preview: Gabon vs Mozambique
The 2nd day of AFCON 2025 ends this Sunday, December 28. In the curtain raiser, Gabon faces Mozambique at 12:30 GMT, with an imperative need for victory to hope to reach the last eight.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
Listen to this story
Audio version in preparation · read aloud by your browser meanwhile
Beaten 0-1 by Cameroon on the 1st day of this AFCON 2025, Gabon is already back to the wall in group F. The Panthers must bounce back, and face Mozambique this Sunday in an already crucial match. They have to win to reposition themselves, and take advantage of the clash between Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire, in the other match of the group.
Quarter-finalist in 2012 (best result), Gabon has been dragging its heels at the AFCON since then. The teammates of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have only come out of the pools once, during the 2021 edition in Cameroon. They even missed two editions: those of 2019 and 2023. And to avoid such misadventures, a victory against Mozambique is essential. The coach Thierry Mouyouma could also decide to start Aubameyang right from the kick-off, as opposed to starting him on the bench against Cameroon. A decision that likely cost Gabon in their opener against the Lions. No room for error this time against Mozambique.
Mozambique wants to write history
Since its creation, the football team of Mozambique has never exceeded the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations. A qualification this year would simply be the biggest performance in its history, especially since Mozambicans are in the same group as Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon. The Mambas must therefore take out their claws against the Panthers in order to make a difference.
In addition, Mozambique is still looking for its first victory in AFCON. The country has 11 draws and 4 defeats in 15 games in the tournament, with 8 goals scored for 33 conceded.