Cameroon vs Gabon prediction: AFRICA: Africa Cup of Nations betting tips on match 2025-12-23 20:00.
[p]Five-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners Cameroon are embroiled in chaos ahead of their opening fixture of the 2025 edition against an unfancied Gabon in Group F.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Cameroon have endured a tumultuous build-up to their latest AFCON campaign, with manager Marc Brys claiming his sacking at the start of the month wasn’t official, leading to both him and association boss Samuel Eto’o submitting two different squad lists! David Pagou appears to be the man tasked with silencing the noise from the dugout, and he has some demons to banish with the Indomitable Lions progressing past the last 16 in just one of the last three editions of this competition. Having missed out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there’s plenty of pressure on the Cameroonians here, who are at least buoyed by coming through qualifying unbeaten (W4, D2).[/p]
[p]Gabon have missed out on seven of the previous 12 AFCONs, but return here looking to upset the odds in a group that contains continental heavyweights Cameroon and Ivory Coast. Five group stage exits from their eight historical appearances at the tournament do little to inspire confidence, but the Panthers were at least unbeaten in five matches before losing to Nigeria in World Cup qualifying (W4, D1). Gabon have also excelled in AFCON openers down the years, last losing their first fixture at the finals in 2000 (W4, D1), with one of those wins coming against Cameroon at the 2010 edition![/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]This will be the first H2H since a 0-0 draw in the 2017 edition of AFCON. Overall, Gabon have won just three of the 25 prior meetings (D10, L12), with just one of the last five seeing both teams score.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Cameroon are unbeaten in their last five AFCON openers (W2, D3).[/p]
[p]Just two of Cameroon’s last nine matches saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]Gabon’s last five goals have arrived after half-time.[/p]
[p]Gabon have scored 2+ goals in just one of the 25 historical H2Hs.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Bryan Mbeumo has been involved in goals in each of Cameroon’s last three competitive wins (G2, A2), while five of his seven Manchester United goals this season have arrived after half-time. Denis Bouanga stands out as Gabon’s main threat, registering five direct goal contributions in as many caps (G3, A2).[/p]
[p]Cameroon’s squad is notable for the absence of André Onana and Vincent Aboubakar. Gabon talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sits this fixture out through injury.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Cameroon may be vulnerable given their off-pitch issues, so backing Draw/Gabon in the double chance market may carry value here.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]