Cameroon vs Gabon prediction 24.12.2025 | AFCON

Cameroon enter the tournament with mixed recent form and a transitional squad profile. Under new head coach David Pagou, several experienced figures - including Andre Onana and veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar - were omitted from the AFCON squad, reshaping the team’s structure. The squad features attacking talent such as Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United) and Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion).

In terms of their qualification record, Cameroon enjoyed a solid campaign, finishing top of Group J with 14 points from six matches, recording four wins and two draws. Defensive solidity was the standout feature of their qualifying run, as they conceded just two goals and kept an impressive four clean sheets.

However, the joy of qualifying for AFCON was short-lived, as Cameroon failed to replicate that success during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. Despite losing only one match out of a possible ten, the Indomitable Lions finished second, four points behind group winners Cape Verde, who qualified for the World Cup for the first time in the country’s history. Cameroon still had an opportunity to secure qualification through the continental play-offs, but a 1-0 defeat to DR Congo ended any remaining hopes.

Gabon arrive in Morocco with encouraging offensive statistics and a slightly stronger recent overall form than Cameroon. Across their last 11 fixtures, they recorded eight wins, one draw, and two defeats, scoring 23 goals at an average of 2.09 per game. This scoring rate points to a more potent attacking unit than Cameroon’s recent output and could pose a stern test for Cameroon’s resilient defence.

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang unlikely to be fit for the game against Cameroon, Gabon will have to look for attacking options elsewhere. Despite a significant loss upfront, they still boast dynamic attacking options such as Denis Bouanga, who adds directness and goal-scoring variety.

Gabon delivered a strong performance in Group F of the CAF 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, collecting 25 points from a possible 30 and winning eight of their ten matches. However, this impressive return was still insufficient to top the group, as Ivory Coast went unbeaten throughout the campaign without conceding a single goal, securing a direct place at next year’s World Cup.