Cameroon earn late point against Mali

Ambroise Oyongo scored his first goal for Cameroon to rescue a point against Mali in their opening match.

The right-back charged into the penalty area to collect a pass from Raoul Loe and controlled brilliantly before slotting home from close range.

Sambou Yatabare had put Mali ahead when he drilled home a low shot from inside the six-yard box.

Yatabare thought he had won it in the final minute when he headed home a free-kick but he was flagged offside.

Mali had made the better first-half chances with Wolves midfielder Bakary Sako twice denied by Fabrice Ondoa.

In the 10th minute Sako cut in from the left-hand side of the area and Ondoa had to tip away his shot at full stretch.

From the corner, Sako floated in a cross from the right and Mustapha Yatabare, older brother of Sambou, headed wide at the far post.

Cameroon hit back and in the 18th minute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s effort was tipped over the bar by Samba Diakité.

Vincent Aboubakar curled a shot just wide for Cameroon at the start of the second half and then Aurelien Chedjou curled a free-kick just over the Mali bar.

But it was underdogs Mali who took the lead in the 71st minute through the unlikely figure of Sambou Yatabare.

The defender found himself on the far side of the six-yard box and chested down a flick-on by Molla Wague before drilling a low shot into the net.

A surprise result looked on the cards but Cameroon refused to give up and were rewarded when Oyongo timed his run to perfection to meet Loe’s lofted pass, controlled the ball and tucked it home from close range.

Sambou Yatabare nearly won it for Mali in the 90th minute when he dived to head home after Seydou Keita’s free-kick had been parried by Ondoa, but was correctly given offside.

There was still time for Choupo-Moting to be brought down by Diakite inside the penalty area at the other end but the offside flag had already gone up.

The match was the fifth 1-1 draw in the opening eight group games and left Group D all square after the earlier match between Ivory Coast and Guinea finished with the same score. BBC