Cameroon vs Gabon prediction, H2H and probable lineups - December 24, 2025
One of the opening matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations group stage will take place on Wednesday at the Stade Adrar in Agadir, where Cameroon will face off against Gabon. Here’s my take on this intriguing matchup, with a bet that looks promising.
Match preview
Cameroon comes into this tournament on the back of a disappointing World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign. The team finished only second in their group, trailing behind Cape Verde. The Indomitable Lions had another shot at the World Cup via the playoffs, but squandered it—shockingly crashing out to DR Congo, conceding the only goal deep into stoppage time.
At the previous Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon managed to progress from the group stage in second place and reached the Round of 16, where they were knocked out by Nigeria with a 0-2 defeat. It’s worth highlighting that Cameroon boasts vast experience in major tournaments and is one of the continent’s most decorated teams. Their last AFCON triumph came in 2017, when the tournament was hosted by Gabon.
Gabon, meanwhile, turned heads in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, finishing second in their group and missing out on a historic World Cup berth by just a single point. In the playoffs, Gabon crashed out in the semifinals, succumbing to Nigeria in extra time after conceding three goals in the added period.
As for Gabon’s AFCON history, they missed the last tournament after failing to qualify. Their best results remain quarterfinal appearances in 1996 and 2012, with little to celebrate since. Now, fans are pinning their hopes on star man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, believing he can lead the team deep into the competition this time around.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Five of Cameroon’s last six matches have featured under three total goals.
- Cameroon has scored in just one of their last four outings.
- Gabon has lost only one of their last four matches.
- These teams have met twice at AFCON, both times in the group stage. Gabon won 1-0 in 2010, while in 2017—when Cameroon went on to win the title—they played out a goalless draw.
Probable lineups
- Cameroon: Epassy - Tchatchoua, Wooh, Tchamadeu, Tolo - Onana, Baleba, Ebong - Mbeumo, Eyong, Magri
- Gabon: Mbaba - Oyono, Appindangoyé, Ecuele, Ekomie - Openda, Lemina, N'Dong - Poko, Bouanga, Aubameyang
Prediction
I believe this match is unlikely to be high-scoring. Both sides will approach the game with caution, given the stakes for each team. Recent results from Cameroon suggest their matches rarely see many goals. With that in mind, my prediction is under 2.5 goals.
