AFCON: Star is born – Etta Eyong showed why everyone wants him and delivered victory for Cameroon

In the match that attracted the most attention in the opening round of the Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon eventually emerged victorious thanks to the combination between Bryan Mbeumo and Etta Eyong in the sixth minute. Chances followed at both ends for the rest of the game, but the scoreline remained unchanged.

Cameroon made a strong start in the Group F encounter against Gabon and thought they had taken an early lead in the 6th minute when Etta Eyong found the net after a well-timed assist from Bryan Mbeumo. Eyong finished low to the right, the ball slipping through the legs of the Gabon goalkeeper. Although the assistant referee initially flagged for offside, a VAR review confirmed that Eyong was onside, allowing the goal to stand and giving Cameroon a 1–0 advantage.

Gabon responded with a spell of attacking intent. In the 19th minute, Anthony Oyono broke through one-on-one with the goalkeeper and opted for power down the middle, but Devis Epassy stayed alert and made a comfortable save. Two minutes later, Denis Bouanga received a precise pass along the ground, created space on the edge of the box and struck at goal, only to send his effort wide to the left.

Cameroon continued to look dangerous, with Danny Namaso repeatedly threatening from distance. In the 23rd minute, he fired a powerful shot from the edge of the area that whistled just inches past the right post. Namaso went close again shortly after with a similar attempt, once more missing the target by the narrowest of margins.

The Cameroonian forward was denied late in the half in the 38th minute when he tried his luck again from outside the box, this time forcing an excellent save from Loyce Mbaba, who pushed the shot away from the bottom-right corner. Cameroon went into the break with a deserved 1–0 lead after an eventful first half.

Cameroon continued to push after the break and came close to doubling their lead early in the second half. In the 50th minute, Junior Tchamadeu found space inside the penalty area and went for goal, but his effort rose just over the crossbar.

Gabon looked to respond and created chances of their own as the half progressed. In the 61st minute, Denis Bouanga received the ball on the edge of the box and struck it cleanly, only to see his shot fly narrowly over the bar.

Bouanga was again at the center of the action in the 72nd minute when he broke through one-on-one with the goalkeeper and aimed for the right corner, but Devis Epassy reacted superbly, diving sharply to deny Gabon a crucial equalizer.

Despite moments of pressure from Gabon, Cameroon managed the closing stages well, holding on to their slim advantage and seeing out the second half with composure.

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS - GROUP STAGE

Sunday

Morocco - Comoros 2-0 (0-0)

/Diaz 55, El Kaabi 74/

Monday

Mali - Zambia 1-1 (0-0)

/Sinayoko 61 - Daka 90+2/

South Africa - Angola 2-1 (1-1)

/Appollis 21, Foster 79 - Show 35/

Egypt - Zimbabwe 2-1 (0-1)

/Marmoush 64, Salah 90+1 - Dube 20/

Tuesday

DR Congo - Benin 1-0 (1-0)

/Bongonda 16/

Senegal - Botswana 3-0 (1-0)

/Jackson 40, 58, Ndiaye C. 90/

Nigeria - Tanzania 2-1 (1-0)

/Ajayi 36, Lookman 52 - M'Mombwa 50/

Tunisia - Uganda 3-1 (2-0)

/Mejbri 10, Achouri 40, 64 - Omedi 90+2/

Wednesday

Burkina Faso - Equatorial Guinea 2-1 (0-0)

/Minoungou 90+5, Tapsoba 90+8 - Anieboh 85/

Algeria - Sudan 3-0 (1-0)

/Mahrez 2, 61, Maza 85/

Ivory Coast - Mozambique 1-0 (0-0)

/Diallo 49/

Cameroon - Gabon 1-0 (1-0)

/Eyong 6/

***odds are subject to change***