One of the standout encounters is set to see defending champions Côte d'Ivoire go head-to-head with Cameroon in Group F, a rivalry that has spanned decades.

The Group F showdown in Morocco promises to be a thrilling contest, potentially a deciding match for both teams’ hopes of advancing, with Gabon and Mozambique—two dangerous teams—also in the group.

The Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroon first clashed on February 6, 1970, in Khartoum, Sudan, during the Africa Cup of Nations, with Cameroon edging out a 3-2 victory. Over the years, the rivalry has remained fierce, with 16 more meetings following that first encounter, and a fairly even record: 9 wins for Cameroon, 5 for Côte d'Ivoire, and 3 draws.

Their most recent meeting came during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. In a double-header, Côte d'Ivoire triumphed 2-1 at home on September 6, 2021, thanks to a brace from Sébastien Haller. However, Cameroon responded with a 1-0 win in the return leg on November 16, 2021, progressing to the next round on away goals.

Côte d'Ivoire has also played a major role in Cameroon’s AFCON history, eliminating them in the 2006 quarter-finals in Egypt and handing them a 1-0 defeat in the 2015 group stages in Malabo, which ended Cameroon’s campaign.

The Group F showdown in Morocco promises to be a thrilling contest, potentially a deciding match for both teams’ hopes of advancing, with Gabon and Mozambique—two dangerous teams—also in the group.

Below are the groups:

GROUP A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia & Comoros

GROUP B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola & Zimbabwe

GROUP C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda & Tanzania

GROUP D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin & Botswana

GROUP E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea & Sudan