Mansion Sports – The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations immediately presents an exciting fixture as the group stage gets underway.

Defending champions Ivory Coast will open their campaign by facing Mozambique in a prestigious Group F encounter.

This match is not only about securing the first three points, but also about setting the tone and momentum for both teams in the race toward the knockout stage.

Defending champions Ivory Coast begin their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a Group F match against Mozambique, as The Elephants look to start their title defense strongly in Morocco.

The match is scheduled to take place at the Grand Stadium of Marrakech on Wednesday, 23 December 2025, at 18:30 local time.

Both teams begin their journeys in the tournament through this fixture, with the opportunity to build momentum in a group that also includes Cameroon and Gabon, where a strong opening result is expected to serve as a foundation for progression to the knockout phase.

Before the match kicks off, here are Mansion Sports’ recommendations for where to watch Ivory Coast vs Mozambique December 2025 so that you do not miss the excitement.

Team Conditions Ahead of the Match

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast arrive at the tournament carrying the heavy burden of expectations after lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in the previous edition on home soil.

At that time, they defeated Nigeria 2–1 in the final to claim their third continental title, an achievement that further confirmed their status as one of Africa’s traditional powerhouses and saw The Elephants return with ambitions of becoming the first defending champions since Egypt in 2010.

Ivory Coast’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have been relatively convincing. Emerse Faé’s side recorded four wins, one draw, and one defeat in their last six competitive matches before the tournament, scoring 13 goals and conceding only once.

That preparation run concluded with a 2–0 victory over Oman in an international friendly, after previously suffering a narrow 0–1 defeat to Saudi Arabia.

In World Cup qualification, The Elephants were highly dominant. They recorded emphatic 9–0 and 7–0 victories over Seychelles home and away, a 3–0 win over Kenya, a goalless draw away to Gabon, and a 1–0 victory over Burundi.

Ivory Coast completed that qualification campaign with a total of 25 goals scored without conceding a single goal.

Ivory Coast’s path to qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was also solid after finishing second in their qualifying group behind Zambia.

Consistency across various competitive matches has provided strong confidence ahead of the group stage opener, despite having to accept the loss of key striker Sebastien Haller due to injury ahead of the tournament.

The recall of experienced players such as Wilfried Zaha, along with the central role of midfielder Franck Kessie, has helped maintain balance within the squad.

However, Sunderland winger Simon Adingra, who impressed during the 2023 title-winning campaign, was not included in the selected squad.

Historically, Ivory Coast have an excellent record against Mozambique. From seven meetings across all competitions, The Elephants have never lost, recording five wins and two draws.

They have scored 13 goals and conceded only twice, including meetings during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers when they played out a goalless draw in Maputo before winning 3–0 at home.

Ivory Coast will begin their title defense without one of their most influential players from the 2023 tournament.

Sebastien Haller has been ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for FC Utrecht, and his position in the squad has been filled by Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand.

The squad also marks the return of midfielder Jean-Michael Seri, who has recovered from a long-term injury and once again brings experience and leadership to Ivory Coast’s midfield.

Meanwhile, winger Adingra, who was an important figure in the 2023 success, was dropped from the final squad due to limited playing time and fitness issues this season. Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe was also not called up for off-field reasons.

Mozambique

Mozambique arrive at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with the determination to challenge history and exceed expectations as they open the tournament against the defending champions.

They secured their place in the finals after finishing second in their qualifying group behind Mali, marking consecutive Africa Cup of Nations appearances and continuing the development of their football at continental level.

In their last six competitive matches, the Mambas recorded two wins, one draw, and three defeats, scoring seven goals and conceding nine.

That run of results included a defeat to Morocco in an international friendly in November, before a 2–2 draw against Chad.

In World Cup qualification, Mozambique claimed a narrow 1–0 victory over Somalia and a 2–0 win against Botswana.

However, they also suffered defeats to Guinea and Uganda, highlighting vulnerabilities when facing opponents of higher quality.

Chiquinho Conde’s side have never progressed beyond the group stage in the history of their Africa Cup of Nations participation, despite having reached the finals on five occasions.

Qualification for the 2025 edition reflects continuity rather than a major surprise, with the main challenge now being to translate qualification into tangible results on Africa’s biggest stage.

Mozambique have included 42-year-old winger Dominguez in their Africa Cup of Nations squad this time.

If selected, he would become the second-oldest player to appear in the finals, after Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who played at the age of 44 years and 21 days at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Mozambique squad blends experience with youth. Veteran defender Mexer serves as a leader at the back alongside Reinildo, while attacking players such as Geny Catamo are expected to provide energy and creativity.

Mozambique must face the tournament without influential midfielder Pepo, who has been ruled out for the entire competition after suffering a serious knee injury ahead of the squad announcement.

The Mambas also travel without experienced winger Clesio Bauque after the coaching staff decided to exclude him for technical reasons during the final selection process.

In defense, Conde will rely on experienced players such as Mexer, Reinildo, Bruno Langa, and Edmilson Dove, who bring stability and international experience.

The midfield combines experience and creativity through Guima, Alfons Amade, and Dominguez.

In attack, Sporting Lisbon forward Catamo remains the focal point of Mozambique’s goal threat, supported by Gildo Vilanculos, Stanley Ratifo, Witi, and Faizal Bangal, who are expected to provide pace and sharpness throughout the group stage.

Where to Watch Ivory Coast vs Mozambique December 2025

For viewers looking for where to watch Ivory Coast vs Mozambique December 2025, depending on your country of residence, the match can be watched live through platforms such as:

• beIN Sports
• Fubo
• Channel 4
• Super Sport

As the defending champions, Ivory Coast are naturally the favorites in this match. However, Mozambique have the potential to offer strong resistance with their fearless approach.

This fixture is a must-watch for African football fans who want to see how both teams take their first steps at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.