Gabon vs Côte d'Ivoire prediction, H2H and probable lineups - December 31, 2025
On Wednesday, December 31, as part of the third round of the Africa Cup of Nations, Gabon will face off against Côte d'Ivoire. Read on for a detailed look at both teams' form and our match prediction.
Match preview
Gabon have already lost all chances of advancing from the group after just two rounds. The "Panthers" are guaranteed to finish in fourth place, as they cannot surpass Mozambique, to whom they lost in the previous round, and in the Africa Cup of Nations, head-to-head results are crucial. In addition to the 2-3 defeat against Mozambique, Gabon also lost to Cameroon in the opening match—0-1. Clearly, in their final fixture, the team will be eager to give their all and at least partially redeem themselves in front of their fans after a disappointing tournament run.
Special attention should be paid to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. For the 36-year-old striker, this could be his last match at a tournament of this level, and possibly one of his final appearances for the national team overall. This game carries special significance for him, and the team leader will surely try to inspire his teammates one last time.
Côte d'Ivoire, on the other hand, have already secured a place in the playoffs. The "Elephants" cannot finish lower than third, and that position, as has already been confirmed, guarantees a ticket to the Round of 16 in this group. The Ivorians haven't had an easy ride in the group stage, but they've achieved the necessary results: two goals scored were enough—one win over Mozambique (1-0) and a draw with Cameroon (1-1).
Nevertheless, it's extremely important for Côte d'Ivoire to finish as high as possible in the group to secure a more favorable opponent in the knockout stage. It's known that the team finishing second will play South Africa, while the group winner will face the runner-up from Group E—most likely Burkina Faso or Sudan. Ironically, first place might mean a tougher opponent, though at this stage, the identity of that team is still unknown.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Gabon have lost each of their last three matches.
- Côte d'Ivoire, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last three games.
- In eight of Côte d'Ivoire's last ten matches, fewer than three goals have been scored.
- These teams have met seven times before. Côte d'Ivoire have the advantage in those encounters, winning four times, while Gabon have just one win and two matches ended in a draw.
- These nations have never met at the Africa Cup of Nations before.
Probable lineups
- Gabon: Mbaba - Oyono, Moucketou-Moussounda, Lemina, Ekomie - Kanga, N'Dong, Poko - Babicka, Bouanga, Aubameyang
- Côte d'Ivoire: Fofana Y. - Doué, Kossounou, Ndicka, Konan - Sangaré, Kessié, Fofana S. - Diallo, Diomande, Bayo
Prediction
I believe we shouldn't expect a goal fest in this match. Côte d'Ivoire have been playing a pragmatic brand of football in the tournament, relying on a solid defense that has yet to falter. I don't see Gabon creating much in attack, even with players like Aubameyang and Bouanga. At the same time, the "Elephants" haven't exactly dazzled going forward either. So, backing under 2.5 total goals looks like a logical choice.
