Cameroon/Guinea: Guinea Hold Indomitable Lions

Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Midfielder Ambroise Oyongo celebrates after showing his class with a well-taken goal for Cameroon on Tuesday night.
24 January 2015
allAfrica.com
By Nick Said

Cameroon's 1-1 draw with Guinea in their African Nations Cup Group D clash in Malabo on Saturday night ensured that this remained the tightest of pools going into the final round of games on Wednesday.

All four games have now finished 1-1, leaving the sides all-square going into their deciding games and throwing up the strong possibility that the drawing of lots will be needed to separate the sides.

Benjamin Moukandjo had Cameroon ahead in the first half as he netted direct from a corner-kick, before Ibrahima Traoré equalised three minutes before the break.

The Indomitable Lions had the better of the opportunities after that, but conspired to miss a number of top chances and had to settle for the draw.

Guinea goalkeeper Naby Yattara did well to keep out a shot from Vincent Aboubakar but was left embarrassed when Cameroon took the lead on 13 minutes.

Moukandjo's corner-kick was not touched, but having arrived through a number of bodies in front of him, took a bad bounce in front of Yattara and deflected into the goal off the keeper.

Traoré had a superb chance to equalise 10 minutes before halftime having found himself through on goal, but his effort was well saved by Cameroon gloveman Fabrice Ondoa.

Traoré did get his goal shortly afterwards though as he produced a brilliant turn just outside the Cameroon penalty-area and rifled a low shot past the keeper.

The Guinea forward nearly had their noses in front when Traoré's cross almost floated in at the far post.

Aboubakar somehow contrived to miss a sitter when he needed only to nod the ball home from four-yards, but the ball slid off the top of his head and wide. The striker ended up in the back of the net, but not the ball.

Substitute Naby Keita saw his effort well saved by Ondoa after being teed-up by Aboubacar Fofana.

Mbia then missed another sitter a minute from time when he had a free header from six-yards out, but somehow managed to put the ball wide, which looked harder than getting it on target.

And Guinea should have had a spot-kick deep into injury-time when Ibrahima Conte was blatantly pushed in the penalty area as he bore down on goal, but the shove was missed by the match officials.

It is all to play for in the final round of fixtures on Wednesday then as Cameroon take on Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea clash with Mali.

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