By Omenihu Alfred fibmn
The Cameroon side has put their chaotic tournament build-up behind them to beat tournament dark horses Gabon 1-0 in Agadir following Karl Etta Eyong’s early goal, while Algeria, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso also kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations with victories in Wednesday’s group fixtures.
However, they answered their many detractors in the best way possible on Wednesday, dispatching neighbours and fierce rivals Gabon 1-0. Etta Eyong opened the scoring after six minutes after being played in by Bryan Mbeumo, who reacted quickest to a mixup in the Panthers backline.
Etta Eyong, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal, is one of the new faces in this young and unfamiliar Cameroon team being sent to the Nations Cup by Pagou, and based on this evidence, the 22-year-old could help the Lions forget some of the big names left at home.
It was the striker’s first goal for the national side, and Eto’o will be hoping that the star turn of one of the new arrivals can help turn the page after the miserable Brys era.
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.
“I’m very proud of myself. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. Honestly, I thought we deserved to win by a bigger margin, but we take this success,” Diallo told journalists after the match.
Diallo broke the deadlock in the 49th minute when he met Frank Kessie’s knockdown to fire low beyond Ernan Siluane in the Mozambique goal
