Ambroise Oyongo's late finish cancelled out an opener from Sambou Yatabare as Mali and Cameroon opened their Africa Cup of Nations campaigns with a 1-1 draw at the Estadio de Malabo this evening.
Mali were the first side to threaten as Mustapha Yatabare guided a well-timed effort towards goal, which produced a standout stop from Cameroon keeper Joseph Ondoa who was able to tip it around the post.
Cameroon offered very little in the first period, but they came close right before the break when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting rose highest before being put off at the last second by Mali defender Adama Tamboura.
The Lions seemed to have got their act together at half time and they came within inches in the second period when Vincent Aboubakar bent a curling shot that just evaded the top corner.
It was Mali who were to grab the game's vitally important opening goal and it came through the younger of the Yatabare brothers, as he collected a pass from Seydou Keita before slicing his shot into the net from a wide angle.
It looked as though Mali would open their tournament by claiming all three points, but Oyongo had other ideas when he produced a world-class run to collect the ball and round the keeper to make it 1-1.
Yatabare thought that he had grabbed Mali a dramatic victory during injury time after turning home a rebounded effort from Keita, only to see the linesman raise his flag and disallow the goal for offside.
Christopher Dodd
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