By our man in Marrakech
MARRAKECH – The iconic Stade de Marrakech provided a backdrop as breathtaking as the football on Wednesday night, as Ivory Coast clawed back from the brink to sink Gabon 3-2 in an AFCON classic.
Under the shimmering Moroccan floodlights and the gaze of the Atlas Mountains, the defending champions proved exactly why they are the kings of the continent.
With its distinctive red-earth architecture echoing the ancient city walls, the Marrakech venue felt more like a gladiator’s arena than a football ground.
For the first 20 minutes, it was the Panthers of Gabon who looked like the masters of the sand. Guélor Kanga silenced the traveling Ivorian fans with a clinical finish in the 11th minute, and when Denis Bouanga doubled the lead shortly after, an upset looked certain under the North African stars.
But the “Elephants” didn’t travel to Morocco to surrender. Just before the break, Jean-Philippe Krasso sparked the comeback, turning the stadium into a cauldron of orange noise.
The second half became a tactical chess match on the pristine Marrakech turf, as the heat began to test the resolve of both sides.
The drama reached a fever pitch in the final ten minutes. Evann Guessand rose highest in the 84th minute to power home a header, leveling the scores and setting up a grandstand finish.
Then, with the clock deep into stoppage time, Bazoumana Touré broke Gabonese hearts, slotting home the winner to secure top spot in Group F.
As the final whistle echoed around the open-air stands of the Grand Stade, the Ivorian players collapsed in joy on the pitch. Gabon, despite their bravery in the desert, head home, while Ivory Coast marches on, having tamed the Panthers in one of the most picturesque settings in world football.
