Christian Bassogog of Cameroon during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Eswatini and Cameroon on the 19 March 2025 at Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela Photo Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Tuesday Dec 23, 2025. 13:00
Cameroon will be looking to grab the Central African Derby bragging rights when they face Gabon in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) fixture on Wednesday.
Kick-off is at 10:00 pm CAT.
The Group F match is scheduled be played at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir, which is a major city in Morocco and it is the capital of the Souss-Massa region and the seat of Agadir-Ida Ou Tanane Prefecture.
The Indomitable Lions are winless in their last two matches across all competitions, having suffered a 1-0 defeat to DR Congo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoffs semi-final on November 13.
Cameroon are bidding to win their first AFCON title since 2017, which would also be their sixth trophy following the Central African giants’ debut in the 1970 edition, hosted by their regional rivals, Gabon.
“I’ve been around for a long time, and leading this young generation is an honor,” new Cameroon captain Christian Bassogog told CAFOnline.
“Being captain is not about myself; it’s about helping my teammates understand that the AFCON is an important competition for Cameroon and for the continent. We want to add another star to our jersey.”
Gabon, on the other hand, are enjoying a six-match unbeaten run across all competitions in regulation time as they lost 4-1 to Nigeria in extra-time after a 1-1 draw in the World Cup African playoffs semi-final on November 13.
The Panthers are making their return to Africa’s most prestigious football tournament after missing out in the 2023 edition in Ivory Coast and the two-time quarter-finalists will be hoping to reach the semi-finals for the first time in Morocco
“It’s a very interesting group. In Africa, there is no good or bad draw: it all depends on the final result. With a team progressing mentally, technically, tactically, and physically, starting against Cameroon is an advantage,” Gabon head coach Thierry Mouyouma told CAF Online.
“It will be a Central African derby. Then we face Mozambique. My objective is to secure qualification by the second match so that we can rotate the squad for the third game.”
Cameroon and Gabon have met 25 times across all competitions since their maiden meeting in July 1970.
The Indomitable Lions have dominated this rivalry, winning 12 matches compared to the Panthers’ three victories, while 10 games ended in a draw.
The last meeting between the two Central African countries ended in a 0-0 draw in the 2017 AFCON Group A match at the Stade d’Angondjé in Libreville, Gabon, in January 2017.
Referee Amin Mohamed Omar, who hails from Egypt, will be in charge of the match between Cameroon and Gabon in Agadir.