Cameroon open Afcon with win after Etta Eyong strike

CAF Africa Cup of Nations

Cameroon 1 – 0 Gabon FT

Karl Etta Eyong kisses his green Cameroon shirt in celebration after scoring a goal — Karl Etta Eyong opened his Cameroon account on his fourth international appearance [Getty Images]

Karl Etta Eyong’s early strike gave five-time champions Cameroon victory over Gabon in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group F opener in Agadir.

In an intense meeting between Central African neighbours, Cameroon set a bristling pace from the start by snapping up transitions and advancing at speed in the hope of catching Gabon cold.

The ploy paid off when Bryan Mbeumo collected Samuel Kotto’s ball over the top and threaded a deft pass on to the run of Eyong inside the box, allowing the Levante forward to slide a first-time finish through goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba’s legs – with the goal confirmed as onside by a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check.

Sensing the need for a considerable momentum change, Gabon coach Thierry Mouyouma produced a surprise by shuffling his attack in the 33rd minute, replacing Teddy Averlant and Eric Bocoum with Mario Lemina and the leading marksman in the nation’s history, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – who had been expected to miss the game through injury.

Royce Openda had Gabon’s best chance 18 minutes from time, drawing an excellent save from the advanced Devis Epassy after Andre Poko’s raking pass provided him with a shooting opportunity from a tight angle inside the box.

Substitute Frank Magri almost doubled Cameroon’s lead shortly afterwards, heading Manchester United forward Mbeumo’s corner against the crossbar via a deflection off defender Jacques Ekomie.

Both sides play the second of their three group stage games on Sunday, when Gabon are in Agadir against Mozambique, who lost 1-0 to holders Ivory Coast earlier on Wednesday, and Cameroon face the Elephants in Marrakech (20:00).

Pagou guides Indomitable Lions to victory

Cameroon boss David Pagou gestures on the touchline as a Gabon player stands ready to take a throw-in — David Pagou (left) was named as Cameroon boss after football federation president Samuel Eto’o won a long-running dispute with the country’s sports ministry [Getty Images]

The victory came after a disrupted build-up to the tournament for the Indomitable Lions, with Belgian Marc Brys replaced as head coach by local boss David Pagou at the start of the month.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana and veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar were high-profile omissions from their squad, while midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was ruled out through injury.

However, Cameroon were a side transformed from the one which missed out on a place at the 2026 Fifa World Cup during Africa’s play-offs last month, as Mbeumo proved a productive creative presence on his Afcon debut and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba patrolled midfield with impressive authority before being forced off at half-time.

Aubameyang, who had been receiving treatment for a thigh injury, climbed off the bench to appear at a fifth edition of the finals, and the striker swiftly made his presence felt as Gabon grew into the game.

The Marseille man narrowly failed to connect when a corner was headed into his path before fellow Panthers forward Denis Bouanga, who had earlier shot wide, had an effort blocked by Junior Tchamadeu.

Gabon spent much of the second period defending, with Mbaba springing to his right to beat away a curling attempt by Mbeumo and Bouanga wasting a late free-kick.

The result brought the first round of group stage matches in Morocco to an end and ensured no match at the finals has finished goalless so far.