Cameroon and Gabon Set for Tense AFCON 2025 Opener
Cameroon and Gabon begin their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaigns today, Wednesday 24 December, at Stade Adrar in Morocco.
The five-time African champions, the Indomitable Lions, enter the tournament looking to rebuild after failing to qualify for the World Cup. With a squad transition underway, Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo has taken the captain’s armband to lead the attack.
The Cameroonian side will be without goalkeeper Andre Onana, leaving Devis Epassy to take charge between the posts. He is joined by La Liga newcomer Karl Etta Eyong, who is expected to earn his first cap during this tournament.
Gabon, meanwhile, must navigate their opening fixture without their all-time leading scorer, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is sidelined with an injury. The Panthers will instead look to forward Denis Bouanga and the experienced Mario Lemina to provide leadership and offensive threat.
Recent history suggests a tight encounter, as the two nations have shared two wins each and a draw over their last five meetings. With Cote d’Ivoire also in the group, avoiding an early defeat is essential for both sides’ hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
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