By Mark Gleeson in Casablanca.
Cameroon put aside recent woes to open their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 1-0 victory over neighbours Gabon on Wednesday as Karl Etta Eyong’s early goal secured a much-needed win.
The Spanish-based striker squeezed his shot under Gabon goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba in the sixth minute after being set up by Bryan Mbeumo, the goal confirmed after a VAR check.
Cameroon moved alongside holders Ivory Coast, who beat Mozambique, at the top of Group F with all 24 teams at the tournament in Morocco now having played a game.
Cameroon, five-times Cup of Nations winners, have been to more World Cups than any other African country but have struggled lately to maintain their prominent role in the African game. They fired coach Marc Brys three weeks ago and left goalkeeper Andre Onana out of the squad for the tournament, having missed out on World Cup qualification last month.
But they will be pleased with a winning start in a fast-tempo game in which they did have the better of the chances.
Mbeumo was particularly effective, setting up several chances for teammates, the best of which Junior Tchamadeu blasted wide of target early in the second half.
Substitute Frank Magri headed against the Gabon crossbar 11 minutes from the end in another good opportunity for the Indomitable Lions.
Gabon started without key striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who only joined up with his teammates in Morocco this week after suffering a thigh injury but both he and Mario Lemina were brought on in an early double substitution in the 32nd minute as Gabon looked to get back into the match.
Denis Bouanga had a handful of half-chances but Aubameyang was largely ineffectual for Gabon.
Also in Group F, defending champions Ivory Coast began their campaign with a controlled 1-0 victory over Mozambique in Marrakesh, with Amad Diallo scoring the only goal of the game.
The Elephants next meet Cameroon in a heavyweight showdown in Marrakesh on December 28 as both look to confirm their place in the knockouts, while Gabon and Mozambique will look to get their first points on the board when they meet in Agadir on the same day.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Group E teams had got their campaigns underway, with Algeria — arguably the most impressive of all teams so far — seeing off ten-men Sudan 3-0 with Riyad Mahrez in scintillating form.