Ambroise Oyongo scored a late goal from close range to help Cameroon earn a 1-1 draw with Mali at the African Cup of Nations.
Oyongo latched on to a long pass from Raoul Loe in the 84th minute and beat the Mali goalkeeper Soumaila Diakite in a fast-paced game that had chances at both ends.
Sambou Yatabare had given Mali a surprising lead in the 71st minute, controlling the ball with his chest and scoring from a tight angle after a free-kick. “The manner we played this match, especially the second half, it was the manner to win the game,” Cameroon’s coach, Volker Finke, said. “The goal of Mali was a matter of concentration. The players were not concentrated.”
The draw leaves all four teams in group D with one point as Ivory Coast drew 1-1 with Guinea earlier on Tuesday.
The match was played at a packed Malabo Stadium which filled up as the night progressed, with thousands of Mali fans sitting alongside thousands of Cameroon supporters.
Cameroon, who conceded only one goal in qualifying and came into the tournament as one of the favourites, had chances earlier in the game but could not find a decent finish.
One of the more entertaining moments came in the 57th minute when their forward Edgar Salli kept the ball up several times on his head and evaded a few defenders, but he was brought down just outside the box.
Cameroon will get another chance on Saturday, against Guinea. Mali take on Ivory Coast in the early match.
