Africa Cup of Nations - Group F
CameroonCameroon2Guinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau0

Africa Cup of Nations: Holders Cameroon too strong for Guinea-Bissau

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
Cameroon - captained by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting - made a winning start to their title defence on Tuesday

Cameroon began the defence of their Africa Cup of Nations crown with victory over Guinea-Bissau in Group F.

Yaya Banana opened the scoring for the Indomitable Lions, heading low into the net from Karl Toko Ekambi's cross.

Stephane Bahoken capitalised on a defensive mix-up three minutes later to seal the points for Clarence Seedorf's side.

Ghana drew 2-2 with Benin in Tuesday's other Group F game.

Cameroon's tournament preparations were disrupted by a row over bonuses, with the Indomitable Lions squad staging a sit-in protest before departing for Egypt.

The five-time winners started slowly in Ismailia but grew into the game as the first half progressed, spurning several good opportunities to break the deadlock before the interval.

Christian Bassogog twice failed to hit the target from good positions, while Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa sidefooted wide from Bassogog's pass.

Full-back Joyskim Dawa Tchakonte and captain Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting both forced fine saves out of Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper Jonas Mendes, before quick-fire goals from Banana and Bahoken secured the win.

Piqueti went closest for Guinea-Bissau, heading against the post from Nadjack's delivery.

Cameroon are next in action against fellow tournament favourites Ghana on Saturday (18:00 BST), while Guinea-Bissau take on Benin later that day (21:00 BST).

Analysis

By BBC Sport Africa's Piers Edwards

This was a solid start from the defending champions, who took a while to get into their stride - helped by Guinea-Bissau running out of steam a little in the second half.

That was perhaps unsurprising after Guinea-Bissau - taking on the five-time champions in only their second finals appearance - impressed when holding their own in the first half, albeit helped by some wayward finishing from the champions.

That was a theme of the game as the Indomitable Lions missed chance after chance - but two goals in three minutes changed their fortunes (the second fortuitously falling their way) - as they slowly went up the gears.

Surprise champions in 2017 after several big-name players missed the tournament, Cameroon have been bolstered by the return of Ajax's Andre Onana and Paris St-Germain's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting - but opponents will have noticed some defensive lapses which Guinea-Bissau failed to exploit.

Line-ups

Cameroon

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Onana
  • 12Dawa
  • 4Banana
  • 5Ngadeu-NgadjuiBooked at 78mins
  • 6Oyongo
  • 8Zambo Anguissa
  • 14Mandjeck
  • 10Sutchuin DjoumSubstituted forBahokenat 67'minutes
  • 11Bassogog
  • 13Choupo-MotingSubstituted forBoumalat 79'minutesBooked at 85mins
  • 17Toko EkambiSubstituted forN'Jieat 67'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Bong
  • 7N'Jie
  • 9Bahoken
  • 15Kunde
  • 16Ondoa
  • 19Zoua
  • 20Boumal
  • 21Kaptoum
  • 22Kana-Biyik
  • 23Kameni

Guinea-Bissau

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Mendes
  • 2Cassamá
  • 5Brito e SilvaBooked at 58mins
  • 14Soares
  • 22Cande
  • 7Mendes Lopes
  • 20Soriano Mane
  • 10Tuncará Gomes
  • 15Silva SáSubstituted forBaldéat 71'minutes
  • 13MendySubstituted forMendesat 81'minutes
  • 18Brito e SilvaSubstituted forBarbosa Intimaat 75'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Nogueira
  • 4Djaló Tiratolay
  • 6Soares Dabó
  • 8Lamine Jaquité
  • 9Baldé
  • 11Barbosa Intima
  • 12Camara Dabó
  • 16Moro Cassamã
  • 17Baldé
  • 19Mendes
  • 21Chipela Gomes
  • 23Vieira Cá
Referee:
Noureddine El Jaafari
Attendance:
5,983

Match Stats

Home TeamCameroonAway TeamGuinea-Bissau
Possession
Home60%
Away40%
Shots
Home16
Away11
Shots on Target
Home5
Away1
Corners
Home8
Away2
Fouls
Home24
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Cameroon 2, Guinea-Bissau 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Cameroon 2, Guinea-Bissau 0.

  3. Post update

    Hand ball by Joyskim Dawa (Cameroon).

  4. Post update

    Foul by Christian Bassogog (Cameroon).

  5. Post update

    Jorginho (Guinea-Bissau) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Attempt missed. Juary Soares (Guinea-Bissau) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Zézinho with a cross following a corner.

  7. Post update

    Corner, Guinea-Bissau. Conceded by Yaya Banana.

  8. Post update

    Offside, Cameroon. Joyskim Dawa tries a through ball, but Clinton N'Jie is caught offside.

  9. Booking

    Olivier Boumal (Cameroon) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Olivier Boumal (Cameroon).

  11. Post update

    Nadjack (Guinea-Bissau) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  13. Post update

    Delay in match because of an injury Juary Soares (Guinea-Bissau).

  14. Post update

    Olivier Boumal (Cameroon) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Zézinho (Guinea-Bissau).

  16. Post update

    Foul by Georges Mandjeck (Cameroon).

  17. Post update

    Zézinho (Guinea-Bissau) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Guinea-Bissau. Joseph Mendes replaces Frederic Mendy.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Yaya Banana (Cameroon).

  20. Post update

    Jorginho (Guinea-Bissau) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Uganda11002023
2Egypt11001013
3Zimbabwe100101-10
4DR Congo100102-20

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Nigeria11001013
2Guinea10102201
3Madagascar10102201
4Burundi100101-10

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Algeria11002023
2Senegal11002023
3Kenya100102-20
4Tanzania100102-20

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Ivory Coast11001013
2Morocco11001013
3Namibia100101-10
4South Africa100101-10

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Mali11004133
2Angola10101101
3Tunisia10101101
4Mauritania100114-30

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Cameroon11002023
2Benin10102201
3Ghana10102201
4Guinea-Bissau100102-20
View full Africa Cup of Nations tables

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