Cameroon 1-0 Gabon: Etta Eyong hits winner after troubled AFCON build-up

Cameroon made light of their troubled preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations as Karl Etta Eyong’s early goal secured a 1-0 win over Gabon in their opening Group F game.

The Indomitable Lions are under new management for the tournament in Morocco, with David Pagou taking the reins after the dismissal of Marc Brys.

Brys initially refused to stand down and selected a squad for the event, though the party chosen by Cameroonian Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o ultimately travelled.

Vincent Aboubakar, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Andre Onana have all been omitted from Cameroon’s squad, but they still made a winning start at the Stade d’Agadir.

They only needed nine minutes to go ahead through Etta Eyong, who slotted home after being teed up by Bryan Mbeumo. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, before that decision was overturned following a VAR review.

Samuel Kotto then sent a header off-target from Mbeumo’s pinpoint cross, while Denis Bouanga saw an attempt blocked at close quarters in Gabon’s best chance of the first half.

Cameroon suffered a major blow when Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba failed to emerge for the second half after sustaining an injury, but the five-time AFCON champions were still able to see out a narrow victory.

Bouanga slipped at the vital moment when Gabon carved out another good opening just after the hour mark, while Cameroon could have had a second goal when Frank Magri rattled the crossbar, though they ultimately did not need one.

Data Debrief: Cameroon inflict rare opening defeat on Gabon

Cameroon won the only previous edition of the Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Morocco, in 1988, and they are off to a good start at the current competition.

Gabon had been unbeaten in their last five opening matches at AFCON (four wins, one draw), but there was no fast start for them this time around.

This was a game of few chances, with Cameroon firing off 13 shots to Gabon’s 12 and edging the expected goals (xG) battle by 1.0 to 0.66.

The victory takes Cameroon level with holders Ivory Coast at the top of Group F, with those two heavyweights facing off on Sunday.