Ivory Coast beat Gabon 3-2, face Burkina Faso in last 16

VIDEO SHOWS: POST-MATCH COMMENTS FROM IVORY COAST COACH EMERSE FAE FOLLOWING HIS SIDE'S 3-2 WIN OVER GABON TO FINISH TOP OF GROUP F AT THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: MARRAKECH, MOROCCO (DECEMBER 31, 2025) (STATS PERFORM – Access all) 1. IVORY COAST COACH EMERSE FAE SEATED AHEAD OF PRESS CONFERENCE 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (French) IVORY COAST COACH, EMERSE FAE, SAYING: “No, no, we messed up our first half. We gave two goals to Gabon, and we put ourselves in a bit of a tricky situation. But we managed to find the resources to come back and win the match in the end, and we took back first place from Cameroon, who were leading 2-1 and winning. So, it's satisfying, and it's a joy to have achieved the goals we set ourselves, to have gone through and finished first in the group, so that we can play on Tuesday, and that we can play here in Marrakech. We have six days to prepare for the round of 16 against Burkina Faso.” 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (French) IVORY COAST COACH, EMERSE FAE, ON MAKING SO MANY CHANGES TO HIS SIDE, SAYING: “Why this choice? Because I trust my whole team. I trust all the players, and as I said, all the players worked hard, they prepared well, and deserved to play and by fielding them, changing almost the entire team except for Franck (Kessie), it didn't change our goal of winning and finishing first in this group. So, no, I really have confidence in my entire team. We changed ten of the 11 players who had played in the first two games with complete peace of mind. We had total confidence in them. Alban (Lafont) may have made a small mistake with his hands with their goal, but the fact is, every goalkeeper in the world has conceded goals like the one he conceded tonight. As I said earlier, some players have scored points, while others have scored fewer, but the most important thing is that the team keeps moving forward, and the team will remain united with all the players, and it's all together that we'll win the trophy we're aiming for.” 6. FAE LEAVING AT END OF PRESS CONFERENCE STORY: Defending champions Ivory Coast came from two goals down to beat already eliminated Gabon 3-2 in Group F at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday (December 31) as teenager Bazoumana Toure's headed winner in added time in Marrakech handed them top spot in their pool. The Ivorians finished on seven points from their three games, ahead of Cameroon on goal difference after the latter beat third-placed Mozambique 2-1. Gabon were eliminated after the second match day following successive defeats and were without injured talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but first half goals from Guelor Kanga and Denis Bouanga gave them a 2-0 lead. Coach Emerse Fae’s side pulled a goal back through Jean-Philippe Krasso, then forced an equaliser via Evann Guessand with six minutes remaining before Toure sealed the win that sets up a last 16 clash with Burkina Faso in Marrakech next Tuesday. (Production: Stefan Haskins)

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