African Cup of Nations
Cameroon 1 – 0 Gabon FT
Karl Etta Eyong opens Cameroon account on fourth international appearance [Getty Images]
Karl Etta Eyong scored early to help five-time champions Cameroon beat Gabon in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group F opener in Agadir.
In an acrimonious meeting between the central African neighbors, Cameroon accelerated the transition with alarming speed from the start and rushed forward in hopes of launching a cold war against Gabon.
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The strategy paid off when Bryan Mbeumo collected the ball from Samuel Kotto and deftly passed it to Eyong running inside the box, allowing the Levante striker to fire his first-time shot through the legs of goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba, with a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check confirming the goal had gone first.
Sensing a considerable momentum change was needed, Gabon coach Thierry Muyuma changed the attacking sequence in the 33rd minute, replacing Teddy Avilante and Eric Beaucoum with Mario Lemina and the country’s all-time leading marksman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – who had been expected to miss the game through injury, in a surprise move.
Royce Openda had Gabon’s best chance with 18 minutes remaining when Andre Poko’s diagonal pass opened up a chance for him to shoot from a tight angle inside the penalty area, but advanced Devis Epassy made a fine save.
Substitute Frank Magri nearly doubled Cameroon’s lead moments later when he headed United forward Mbeumo’s corner kick over defender Jacques Ekomie’s deflection onto the crossbar.
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The sides will play their second of three group games on Sunday, with Gabon facing Mozambique in Agadir, who lost 1-0 to defending champions Ivory Coast earlier on Wednesday, and Cameroon facing Elephants in Marrakech (20:00).
Pagu leads Indomitable Lions to victory
David Pagu (left) has been appointed Cameroon head coach after FA president Samuel Eto’o won a long-running dispute with the country’s sports ministry [Getty Images]
The victory came after the Indomitable Lions’ tournament preparations were disrupted with Belgian Marc Brys replaced as head coach by local boss David Pagou earlier this month.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana and veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar feature in the squad, while midfielder Andre Frank Zambo Anguesa is missing due to injury.
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However, Cameroon missed out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup in last month’s Africa play-offs and Mbeumo proved a creative presence on his Africa Cup debut, while Brighton’s Carlos Baleba patrolled midfield with impressive authority but was forced off at half-time.
Aubameyang, who has been undergoing treatment for a thigh injury, came off the bench to make his fifth appearance in the final, and the striker quickly made his presence felt as Gabon gradually settled into the game.
The Marseille man narrowly missed the ball when a corner was passed into his path before Panthers forward Denis Bouanga’s shot went wide but was blocked by Junior Tchamadeu.
Gabon spent much of the second quarter on the defensive, with Mbaba jumping out from the right to thwart Mbeumo’s curling attempt, while Bouanga wasted a late free-kick.
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This result brought an end to the first round of Morocco’s group stage and ensured that no game in the finals so far has been a goalless draw.
