Group F Wide Open as Mozambique Shakes Up the AFCON Hierarchy

MOROCCO : Mozambique’s 3-2 victory over Gabon has transformed Group F from a predictable two-horse race into one of the most exciting narratives of AFCON 2025.

The “Mambas” have shown remarkable progress since Chiquinho Conde took the helm in October 2021. By securing back-to-back qualifications for the first time since 1998, they arrived in Morocco with a sense of stability. That patience was rewarded in Agadir as they displayed tactical discipline and clinical finishing against a higher-ranked Gabonese side.

As it stands, the Group F table is a three-way tie at the top (pending the result of the Ivory Coast vs. Cameroon clash).

A win or even a draw against Cameroon in their final match on Wednesday could be enough to see them reach the knockout rounds for the first time in history.

After two losses, the Panthers are in a “win-or-go-home” scenario. They must beat Ivory Coast on Wednesday and hope for a favorable swing in goal difference or third-place rankings.

Both Cameroon and Ivory Coast now know that Mozambique is a genuine threat, no longer just a team there to make up the numbers.

The match showcased high-level individual performances that could define the next round. Geny Catamo continues to be Mozambique’s creative engine, while Reinildo Mandava (Sunderland) provides the defensive steel. For Gabon, the 36-year-old Aubameyang remains a threat, but the aging defense, led by Bruno Ecuele Manga, struggled to cope with Mozambique’s pace.

With the final matchday approaching, the Mambas have the momentum. Whether they can sustain this energy against the “Indomitable Lions” of Cameroon remains the biggest question in Agadir.