Cameroon Triumphs Over Gabon in AFCON Opener
Karl Etta Eyong's early goal secured a victory for five-time champions Cameroon against Gabon in their opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group F in Agadir.
In a fiercely contested encounter between Central African rivals, Cameroon established a rapid tempo from the outset, quickly transitioning and advancing in hopes of catching Gabon off guard.
The strategy proved effective when Bryan Mbeumo received a ball from Samuel Kotto, delivering a precise pass to Eyong, who skillfully slotted a first-time shot through the legs of goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba. The goal was confirmed as onside following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
In response, Gabon coach Thierry Mouyouma made a surprising tactical shift in the 33rd minute, substituting Teddy Averlant and Eric Bocoum with Mario Lemina and the nation's all-time leading scorer, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had been expected to miss the match due to injury.
Gabon had their best opportunity 18 minutes from the end when Royce Openda forced an impressive save from Devis Epassy after receiving a precise pass from Andre Poko, which allowed him a shot from a tight angle inside the box.
Shortly after, substitute Frank Magri nearly extended Cameroon's lead, heading a corner from Manchester United's Mbeumo against the crossbar after a deflection off defender Jacques Ekomie.
Both teams are set to play their second group stage matches on Sunday. Gabon will face Mozambique in Agadir, while Cameroon will take on Ivory Coast in Marrakech at 20:00.
The victory comes after a tumultuous lead-up for the Indomitable Lions, who saw Belgian coach Marc Brys replaced by local manager David Pagou earlier this month. High-profile absences included goalkeeper Andre Onana and veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar, along with midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who was sidelined due to injury.
Despite these challenges, Cameroon displayed a revitalized performance compared to their recent playoff disappointment for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mbeumo emerged as a key creative force on his AFCON debut, while Brighton's Carlos Baleba showcased commanding midfield authority before being substituted at halftime.
Aubameyang, who had been recovering from a thigh injury, made a notable impact after coming off the bench, as Gabon gradually found their rhythm. He narrowly missed connecting with a corner that was headed on, while teammate Denis Bouanga, after previously shooting wide, had a subsequent effort blocked by Junior Tchamadeu.
In the second half, Gabon spent much of the period defending, with Mbaba making a crucial save against a curling attempt from Mbeumo, and Bouanga failing to capitalize on a late free-kick opportunity.
This result concluded the first round of group stage matches in Morocco, marking the tournament's ongoing trend of no matches finishing without a goal.