Cameroon booked their place in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Mozambique in their final Group F encounter on Wednesday, December 31, in Tangier.
The Indomitable Lions had to come from behind to secure the win, showing resilience and experience against a spirited Mozambique side that threatened to spring a surprise.
The match began with an unexpected twist in the 23rd minute when Geny Catamo gave the Mambas the lead.
The winger’s strike stunned Cameroon and briefly shifted momentum toward Mozambique, raising hopes of a potential upset and testing the Lions’ composure.
Cameroon, however, responded with the calm assurance expected of a five-time AFCON champion.
Just five minutes later, Mozambique suffered a major setback when defender Nené inadvertently turned the ball into his own net under pressure, restoring parity and swinging momentum back in Cameroon’s favour.
The equaliser reignited Cameroon’s confidence.
Under the guidance of head coach David Pagou, the Lions began to dominate possession and assert greater control in midfield, steadily pushing Mozambique deeper into their own half.
The decisive moment arrived ten minutes into the second half.
Christian Kofane found space outside the penalty area and unleashed a precise right-footed strike that beat the Mozambican goalkeeper to complete the turnaround and put Cameroon ahead for the first time in the match.
From that point on, Cameroon managed the game intelligently, maintaining possession and limiting Mozambique’s attacking threats.
The Mambas struggled to reorganise and find a response, as Cameroon’s defensive structure and game management saw them safely over the line.
The victory sees Cameroon finish second in Group F and advance to the knockout stage, where they will face South Africa on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
Despite the defeat, Mozambique’s AFCON journey continues. Their group-stage performances were enough to see them progress as one of the best third-placed teams, and they are set to take on Nigeria in the Round of 16 on Monday, January 5, 2026.
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Story by Xavier Mensah | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Erica Odeenyin Odoom
