Comeback wins for Ivory Coast, Cameroon at Africa Cup. Sudan advances despite defeat and war at home

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Bazoumana Touré scored in stoppage time as defending champion Ivory Coast recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Gabon 3-2 on Wednesday in the Africa Cup of Nations, which now enters the knockout stage.

Christopher Opéri crossed for Touré to head in the winner as Les Éléphants staged a dramatic comeback to finish top of Group F, just ahead of Cameroon, by virtue of scoring a goal more than the Indomitable Lions.

Opéri had also set up Evann Guessand for the equalizer in the 84th minute. Both of the late scorers were substitutes, as coach Emerse Faé was forced to make changes to counter Gabon's early dominance.

The Panthers raced ahead with goals from Guélor Kanga and Denis Bouanga, before Jean‑Philippe Krasso pulled one back at the end of the first half.

“We wanted this first place, and we had to work in the second half for it,” Faé said.

Five-time winner Cameroon also came from behind to beat Mozambique 2-1 in the other group game.

Both Ivory Coast and Cameroon finished with seven points each, with a goal difference of plus 2, but Ivory Coast scored five goals, compared to Cameroon’s four.

Mozambique also progressed to the last 16 as one of the four best third-place finishers.

Gabon was already eliminated after starting with two defeats.

Ivory Coast stays in Marrakech after winning the group and will next face Burkina Faso in the last 16 on Tuesday.

Cameroon was dealt a tough encounter against South Africa in Rabat on Sunday, and Mozambique will face Nigeria the next day in Fez.

In other confirmed matchups, 2021 champion Senegal will play Sudan in Tangier on Saturday before Tunisia plays Mali in Casablanca.

Host nation Morocco will face Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday, and seven-time champion Egypt will play Benin in Agadir on Monday.

Also, Algeria and Congo meet in Rabat on Tuesday.

Despite a 2-0 loss to Burkina Faso in its final group game, Sudan could look forward to the knockout stage after qualifying as one of the best third-place finishers.

Both teams were already assured of advancing before their Group E match Wednesday. Sudan progressed despite the complication of playing all its qualification games away from home as the country contends with a brutal war and humanitarian crisis.

“This is good for all Sudanese,” Sudan coach James Appiah said.

Burkina Faso made a better start and the Stallions duly took the lead through Lassina Traoré in the 16th.

Sudan had a great opportunity to level when Burkinabe ’keeper Hervé Koffi bundled over Al Gozoli Nooh in the penalty area, but Nooh missed the resulting spot kick.

The Sudanese fans, who were in a majority at the Stade Mohammed V stadium, tried rallying the team. Yasir Mozamil was just wide, and Amar Abdallah missed another good chance for Sudan.

Arsène Kouassi sealed the Stallions' win with a late goal as Burkina Faso finished second in the group.

Algeria, already assured of topping the group, signed off before its last-16 meeting with Congo with a 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea, which finished with three defeats.

Zineddine Belaid, Fares Chaibi and Ibrahim Maza scored in the first half for Algeria.

Veteran forward Emilio Nsue – playing for the first time legally in the Africa Cup – scored a brilliant consolation for the National Thunder in the second half. The 36-year-old Nsue was the top scorer at the last edition, but FIFA in 2024 ruled he was never eligible over his 11 years playing for Equatorial Guinea. He was finally cleared to play in March this year.

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Ivory Coast's Evann Guessand celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Ivory Coast's Evann Guessand celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Ivory Coast players celebrate after scoring a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Ivory Coast fans cheer their team during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Ivory Coast's Bazoumana Touré scores during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Trevon Diggs was claimed by the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, a day after the Dallas Cowboys waived the 2021 All-Pro cornerback.

This move enables Green Bay to boost its injury-riddled secondary by taking a chance on a two-time Pro Bowl selection seeking a career reset.

Diggs had an NFL-leading 11 interceptions and earned All-Pro honors with Dallas in 2021. He earned a second Pro Bowl selection the following year.

But his production dipped from there as he dealt with two major knee surgeries.

Diggs played six games this season before sustaining a concussion in an accident at home on Oct. 16. Diggs didn’t explain the cause of the injury to reporters until two months later, when he said he got hit in the head by a mounting pole while trying to install a TV.

Even after Diggs returned from concussion protocol, he remained off the field and ended up missing eight games. The Cowboys attributed his delayed return to issues regarding his knees.

After Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland suffered a season-ending foot injury, Diggs returned to action and played against the Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders.

Green Bay needed a boost at cornerback after placing Kamal Hadden (ankle) and Nate Hobbs (knee) on injured reserve this week. Both players were knocked out of the Packers’ 41-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

The Packers did sign cornerbacks Shemar Bartholomew and Jaylin Simpson from their practice squad to their active roster on Tuesday.

Heading to Green Bay reunites Diggs with injured Packers defensive end Micah Parsons, who was acquired from Dallas just before the start of the season. Parsons and Diggs are good friends who exchanged jerseys after the Packers' 40-all tie with the Cowboys earlier this season.

Green Bay (9-6-1) carries a three-game skid into its regular-season finale Sunday at Minnesota. The Packers have clinched a playoff berth as the NFC’s No. 7 seed.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) defends on Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) warms up before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) walks along he sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)