Cameroon began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 success over Gabon, which saw Manchester United star Bryan Mbeumo make it five goal involvements in the Indomitable Lions’ last four competitive wins.
Though Cameroon went into this one with background turmoil, as David Pagou took the place of Marc Brys, they got off to the perfect start inside just seven minutes.
A very familiar name once again proved pivotal, as Mbeumo took down Samuel Kotto’s long ball out of defence and laid on Karl Etta Eyong, who fired powerfully beyond Loyce Mbaba.
As Cameroon looked to pile on the pressure, Danny Namaso could only fire wide when receiving Junior Tchamadeu’s squared ball from the right.
It was then that Gabon head coach Thierry Mouyouma made a truly remarkable move, bringing on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as part of a double substitution, though the presence of the iconic ex-Gunner seemed to revive the Panthers’ team spirit, with Denis Bouanga seeing a shot blocked in first-half injury time.
There was certainly no shortage of endeavour in the early second-half minutes, with Mbeumo’s vision almost proving crucial, as he played in an onrushing Tchamadeu with the side of his boot, only for the Stoke man to fire wildly off target.
Indeed, Mbeumo was proving increasingly unplayable for the Gabon backline, and on 55 minutes, he nearly doubled the Indomitable Lions’ advantage, forcing Mbaba into a diving save after beating two markers and producing a rasping
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Cameroon began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 success over Gabon, which saw Manchester United star Bryan Mbeumo make it five goal involvements in the Indomitable Lions’ last four competitive wins.
Though Cameroon went into this one with background turmoil, as David Pagou took the place of Marc Brys, they got off to the perfect start inside just seven minutes.
A very familiar name once again proved pivotal, as Mbeumo took down Samuel Kotto’s long ball out of defence and laid on Karl Etta Eyong, who fired powerfully beyond Loyce Mbaba.
As Cameroon looked to pile on the pressure, Danny Namaso could only fire wide when receiving Junior Tchamadeu’s squared ball from the right.
It was then that Gabon head coach Thierry Mouyouma made a truly remarkable move, bringing on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as part of a double substitution, though the presence of the iconic ex-Gunner seemed to revive the Panthers’ team spirit, with Denis Bouanga seeing a shot blocked in first-half injury time.
There was certainly no shortage of endeavour in the early second-half minutes, with Mbeumo’s vision almost proving crucial, as he played in an onrushing Tchamadeu with the side of his boot, only for the Stoke man to fire wildly off target.
Indeed, Mbeumo was proving increasingly unplayable for the Gabon backline, and on 55 minutes, he nearly doubled the Indomitable Lions’ advantage, forcing Mbaba into a diving save after beating two markers and producing a rasping. Source CAF Online
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