By Sports Opinions | Sunday, 28 December 2025
If you thought the drama in Morocco had peaked, think again. Today, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations serves up arguably the biggest fixture of the group stages so far. It’s a day of heavyweights, with defending champions Ivory Coast, continental giants Cameroon, and the technically gifted Algeria all in action.
Here is your guide to today’s matches and what you can expect from a blockbuster Sunday.
The Headline Act: Ivory Coast vs. Cameroon (Group F)
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Kick-off: Evening Fixture
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Venue: Marrakech
What to Expect:
This is the one we’ve all been waiting for. The Elephants vs. The Indomitable Lions. It doesn’t get bigger than this in African football.
Ivory Coast enters this game as the defending champions, but they face a Cameroon side that looks revitalized and hungry. Expect a physical, high-intensity battle in the midfield. The Ivorians will look to control possession, but Cameroon’s counter-attacking pace is lethal.
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Our Opinion: This will be a tactical chess match. Neither side will want to lose, which could make the first half cagey. However, if one team scores early, expect the floodgates to open. A draw feels like a safe bet, but pure chaos is what we are hoping for.
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The Desert Fox Battle: Algeria vs. Burkina Faso (Group E)
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Kick-off: Afternoon Fixture
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Venue: Rabat
What to Expect:
Algeria got off to a flying start in Matchday 1, and a win today would all but guarantee their place in the Round of 16. However, Burkina Faso is never a pushover. The Stallions have a history of frustrating big teams with their organized defence and physical resilience.
Riyad Mahrez will be the key man again for Algeria, pulling the strings from the wing. If Burkina Faso gives him space, it’s game over. But if the Stallions can cut off the supply line, they have the physicality to bully the Algerian midfield.
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Our Opinion: Algeria has too much quality in attack. We expect the Desert Foxes to edge this one, but it won’t be a walk in the park.
The Survival Scraps: The “Other” Games
While the giants grab the headlines, the other two fixtures today could determine who sneaks into the knockout stages as the “best third-placed” teams.
Equatorial Guinea vs. Sudan (Group E)
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Casablanca
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Both teams need points desperately. Equatorial Guinea (the Nzalang Nacional) often punches above their weight in these tournaments. Expect them to take the game to Sudan, who will likely sit deep and look to frustrate. This is a “must-win” for Equatorial Guinea if they want to repeat their heroics from previous AFCONs.
Gabon vs. Mozambique (Group F)
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Agadir
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With Ivory Coast and Cameroon likely to dominate Group F, this match is effectively a playoff for third place. Gabon has the individual brilliance to win this, but Mozambique plays with a collective spirit that is hard to break down. Expect goals here, neither defence is impenetrable.
The Verdict
Sunday, 28 December is set to be a defining day in the tournament. By tonight, we will likely know the first few teams officially booking their tickets to the knockout rounds.
Grab your snacks, find a screen, and settle in. The Elephants and the Lions are about to collide, and you do not want to miss it.
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