Ivory Coast produced a stunning comeback to beat Gabon 3-2 in the third round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations group stage in Morocco, overturning a two-goal deficit in dramatic fashion.
Gabon appeared in full control, but the Ivorian response from the bench completely changed the story.
Jean-Philippe Krasso pulled one back just before half-time in the 44th minute, giving the Elephants hope. In the closing stages, substitute Evann Guessand made it 2-2 in the 84th minute, before fellow substitute Bazoumana Touré struck a stoppage-time winner to complete an emotional turnaround.
This victory highlighted the crucial impact of the Ivorian substitutes, who have now taken their country to the top of the all-time list of goals scored by substitutes in AFCON history, with 19 goals, equal to Egypt’s long‑standing record.
Morocco sits second on this list with 16 goals, while Ghana and Senegal follow with 15 each. The win not only boosted Ivory Coast’s confidence in the tournament but also reinforced their reputation as a team that can call on game‑changing options from the bench when it matters most.
