Ivory Coast v Mozambique live: Score and updates from Afcon 2025

Ivory Coast immediately on the attack as they break down the left and Diomande shoots but into the side netting. Not a million miles away

And we’re underway as the reigning champions Ivory Coast face Mozambique

Not far away from kick-off now and here’s the two teams arriving in the building a little earlier.

Sunderland star Reinildo captains Mozambique today – he’s had an impressive season at the Stadium of Light, can he help the Mambas spring a shock?

He normally plays left-back for Sunderland but often lines up at centre-back for his national side, so we’ll see if that’s the case in Marrakech today.

Mozambique XI: Siluane, Langa, Kambala, Geny, Ratifo, Reinildo, Amade, Mexer, Witi, Guima, Calila

Two goals deep in second-half stoppage time saw Burkina Faso snatch a 2-1 victory over 10-man Equatorial Guinea in the opening Group E match at Afcon 2025.

Despite having Basilio Ndiong sent off early in the second half for catching Bertrand Traore on his heel with a dangerous tackle, Equatorial Guinea took a surprise lead in the 85th minute when substitute Marvin Anieboh headed home from a corner.

At that point, they looked on course to pull off another surprise result as they did at the last edition of the Cup of Nations when they thrashed eventual champions Ivory Coast 4-0 in topping their group.

But Burkina Faso fought back late on, with Georgi Minoungou sweeping home from a tight angle in the fifth minute of stoppage time to equalise before Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba won all three points with the last effort of the game – tapping in a rebound when Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono parried Cyriaque Irie’s cross straight into his path.

Morocco is the host of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and the nation sees the tournament as a crucial stepping stone in its ambitious journey to become a global football powerhouse and a significant dress rehearsal for its co-hosting duties at the 2030 World Cup.

The North African nation, which famously reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, will welcome 24 teams from across the continent, utilising nine new or renovated stadiums in six cities.

Here’s how Morocco has evolved as a major football nation and what the future holds off the back of the tournament:

The Ivory Coast XI is in and there are starts for Man United star Amad Diallo, as well as former Crystal Palace stalwart Wilfried Zaha – currently on loan at Charlotte FC from Galatasaray.

Ivory Coast XI: Fofana; Doue, Kossounou, Ndicka, Konan; Sangare, Seri, Kessie; Diallo, Diomande, Zaha

The Sunderland star could be pivotal to Mozambique’s chances.

The 31-year-old left-back has featured 12 times for the Black Cats this term, chipping in with one assist and the former Atletico Madrid man is thriving as the first Mozambican to appear in the Premier League.

Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Caykur Rizespor), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos)

Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolves), Willy Boly (Nottingham Forest), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting), Guela Doue (Strasbourg), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente), Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta), Evan Ndicka (Roma), Christopher Operi (Istanbul Basaksehir), Armel Zohouri (Iberia 1999)

Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Rennes), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Metz), Christ Inao Oulai (Trabzonspor), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest), Jean-Michael Seri (Maribor)

Forwards: Vakoun Bayo (Udinese), Oumar Diakite (Cercle Brugge), Amad Diallo (Manchester United), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Paris FC), Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim), Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte), Evann Guessand (Aston Villa)

The Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco started on Sunday 21 December, with the final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat to be played on Sunday 18 January – far earlier than when held at this time of the calendar than in previous years.

The 35th edition of the biennial tournament was initially set to be played in July and August 2025, in order to reduce disruption with the European football season.

The Africa Cup of Nations was moved to begin in December in order to make room for the expanded Club World Cup, which featured 32 teams for the first time and took place in the United States between June and July earlier this year.