Match ends, Mali 1, Cameroon 1.
MaliMali1CameroonCameroon1
Ambroise Oyongo scored his first goal for Cameroon to rescue a point against Mali in their opening match.
The right-back charged into the penalty area to collect a pass from Raoul Loe and controlled brilliantly before slotting home from close range.
Sambou Yatabare had put Mali ahead when he drilled home a low shot from inside the six-yard box.
Yatabare thought he had won it in the final minute when he headed home a free-kick but he was flagged offside.
Mali had made the better first-half chances with Wolves midfielder Bakary Sako twice denied by Fabrice Ondoa.
In the 10th minute Sako cut in from the left-hand side of the area and Ondoa had to tip away his shot at full stretch.
From the corner, Sako floated in a cross from the right and Mustapha Yatabare, older brother of Sambou, headed wide at the far post.
Cameroon hit back and in the 18th minute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's effort was tipped over the bar by Samba Diakité.
Vincent Aboubakar curled a shot just wide for Cameroon at the start of the second half and then Aurelien Chedjou curled a free-kick just over the Mali bar.
But it was underdogs Mali who took the lead in the 71st minute through the unlikely figure of Sambou Yatabare.
The defender found himself on the far side of the six-yard box and chested down a flick-on by Molla Wague before drilling a low shot into the net.
A surprise result looked on the cards but Cameroon refused to give up and were rewarded when Oyongo timed his run to perfection to meet Loe's lofted pass, controlled the ball and tucked it home from close range.
Sambou Yatabare nearly won it for Mali in the 90th minute when he dived to head home after Seydou Keita's free-kick had been parried by Ondoa, but was correctly given offside.
There was still time for Choupo-Moting to be brought down by Diakite inside the penalty area at the other end but the offside flag had already gone up.
The match was the fifth 1-1 draw in the opening eight group games and left Group D all square after the earlier match between Ivory Coast and Guinea finished with the same score.
Cameroon coach Volker Finke:
"The manner we played this match, especially the second half, it was the manner to win the game.
"The goal of Mali was a matter of concentration. The players were not concentrated."
Mali coach Henryk Kasperczak:
"We have to underline the fact that it was a very complete performance, with intensity and a good rhythm. We played quality football against a Cameroon team whose own qualities we are well aware of."
Line-ups
Mali
Formation 4-3-3
- 16Diakité
- 15Diakité
- 23Wague
- 4Coulibaly
- 3TambouraBooked at 78mins
- 17N'DiayeBooked at 24minsSubstituted forDoumbiaat 80'minutes
- 8Sylla
- 12Keita
- 14YatabaréSubstituted forTraoréat 90+4'minutes
- 7YatabaréSubstituted forMaigaat 86'minutes
- 10Sako
Substitutes
- 1Berthé
- 2Diawara
- 5Coulibaly
- 6Doumbia
- 9Traoré
- 11Diarra
- 13Coulibaly
- 18Diaby
- 19Konaté
- 20Maiga
- 21Traoré
- 22Samaké
Cameroon
Formation 4-3-3
- 16Ondoa
- 6Oyongo Bitolo
- 3N'Koulou
- 21Chedjou
- 12Bedimo
- 4Loé
- 13Choupo-Moting
- 18EnohSubstituted forKomat 17'minutesSubstituted forEtoundiat 78'minutes
- 11Salli
- 10Aboubakar
- 8Moukandjo
Substitutes
- 1N'Dy Assembe
- 2Kweuke
- 5Guihoata
- 7N'Jie
- 9Bagnack
- 14Mandjeck
- 15Etoundi
- 17Mbia
- 19Djeugoue
- 20Kom
- 22Ekeng Ekeng
- 23Abogo
- Referee:
- Janny Sikazwe
Match Stats
Home TeamMaliAway TeamCameroon
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away22
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Mali 1, Cameroon 1.
Post update
Raoul Loé (Cameroon) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Modibo Maiga (Mali).
Substitution
Substitution, Mali. Abdou Traoré replaces Sambou Yatabaré.
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Offside, Cameroon. Benjamin Moukandjo tries a through ball, but Franck Etoundi is caught offside.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Sambou Yatabaré (Mali) because of an injury.
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Offside, Mali. Seydou Keita tries a through ball, but Sambou Yatabaré is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Seydou Keita (Mali) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Foul by Raoul Loé (Cameroon).
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Bakary Sako (Mali) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Franck Etoundi (Cameroon).
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Drissa Diakité (Mali) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Offside, Mali. Tongo Doumbia tries a through ball, but Modibo Maiga is caught offside.
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Offside, Cameroon. Benjamin Moukandjo tries a through ball, but Henri Bedimo is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Mali. Modibo Maiga replaces Mustapha Yatabaré.
Post update
Attempt missed. Eric Choupo-Moting (Cameroon) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Edgar Salli (Cameroon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Salif Coulibaly (Mali).
