Cameroon secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Gabon in their opening Group F match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, held in Agadir. The decisive moment came early in the game when Karl Etta Eyong found the back of the net, sealing the win for the five-time champions.
In a high-intensity encounter between the Central African rivals, Cameroon asserted their dominance from the outset. They capitalized on quick transitions and rapid advances, aiming to catch Gabon off guard. The strategy paid off when Bryan Mbeumo received a long ball from Samuel Kotto and played a precise pass to Etta Eyong, who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba. The goal was confirmed as valid after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
Gabon's coach, Thierry Mouyouma, sought to shift the momentum by making a surprise double substitution in the 33rd minute. Teddy Averlant and Eric Bocoum were replaced by Mario Lemina and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had been expected to miss the game due to injury.
Gabon's best chance came 18 minutes from time when Royce Openda forced a superb save from Cameroon's Devis Epassy. Shortly after, Frank Magri came close to extending Cameroon's lead, but his header off Mbeumo's corner struck the crossbar after deflecting off defender Jacques Ekomie.
Both teams will play their second group stage matches on Sunday. Gabon will face Mozambique in Agadir, while Cameroon will take on Ivory Coast in Marrakech.
The victory came amidst a tumultuous build-up for Cameroon, who replaced head coach Marc Brys with David Pagou earlier this month. Key players like Andre Onana, Vincent Aboubakar, and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa were absent due to various reasons.
Despite the challenges, Cameroon put on a strong performance, with Mbeumo showcasing his creative abilities and Carlos Baleba controlling the midfield before being substituted at half-time. Aubameyang, who had been recovering from a thigh injury, made a significant impact off the bench, nearly scoring but failing to connect with a header and having another effort blocked.
The result marked the conclusion of the first round of group stage matches in Morocco, with every game so far producing at least one goal. Both teams will look to build on this performance as they progress through the tournament.
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