Mali 1-1 Cameroon: The referee brings a fairly pulsating contest to a halt as these two sides were ultimately unable to be separated. Kasperczak's men took a deserved lead with 19 minutes to go, with Sambou Yatabare seemingly earning all three points. However, the Indomitable Lions fought back and salvaged a draw thanks to right-back Oyongo, who had previously been given a tough time by Sako. It's all left to play for in Group D!
90' + 5' FULL-TIME!
90' + 4' Substitution Sambou Yatabare ? Abdou Traoré
90' + 4' Kasperczak makes one final change, as Yatabare makes way for Abdou Traore.
90' + 2' HEARTBREAK FOR MALI! Keita's free-kick is saved by Ondoa, with the Barcelona man palming the ball straight to Yatabare. The attacker heads in the rebound and sparks joyous celebrations, but the assistant has his flag up for offside and replays show the decision is correct.
90' Mali break forward and get some momentary respite from the Cameroon pressure. Sylla finds himself in possession on the edge of the area and, although his control isn't great, he wins a free-kick from Loe.
88' It's all Cameroon now. The Indomitable Lions are pouring men forward in hope of scraping a desperate late win, but Mali are holding firm at the moment.
86' Substitution Mustapha Yatabare out for Modibo Maiga
84' Assist Raoul Cédric Loe
84' Ambroise Oyongo GOAL!!! CAMEROON ARE LEVEL! Brilliant pass into the danger area by Loe and Oyongo, up from the right-back position, produces a delightful first touch before stroking past the helpless Diakite.
83' It's kicking off a bit here. Sylla tracks back and clears the ball away from Etoundi, before the two clash on the ball. But the former Aston Villa man goes down like he'd been shot after a slight headbutt.81' And now Kasperczak responds. N'Diaye makes way, with Doumbia taking his place in the midfield engineroom.
80' Substitution Mamoutou N'Diaye ? Tongo Hamed Doumbia
79' There is Finke's attempt to change things. M'Bia's brother Etoundi makes his way on to the pitch and replaces Kom, who suffers the ignominy of being a substituted substitute.
78' Substitution Franck Kom ? Franck Etoundi
77' Fine goalkeeping from Diakite as the stopper watches Moukandjo's cross all the way and produces an excellent, confident claim, taking the danger out of the situation.
75' We have another pause in play now. Moukandjo is down and is some pain after a clash of heads with Coulibaly, who took no prisoners there. The Cameroon man should be well enough to continue, though.
73' This has put Mali in a wonderful position now. Cameroon really have to come out and play now, potentially creating the opportunity for Kasperczak's men to play on the counterattack again, as they did to good effect in the first half.
71' Assist Seydou Keita
71'Assist Molla Wague
71'Goal Sambou Yatabare
67'Tamboura has hobbled off the pitch, though it remains to be seen whether he comes back on. Loe is now down hold his knee, however, with the midfielder clashing with Mustapha Yatabare this time.
65'There's another strong challenge from a Cameroonian. Loe is the culprit this time, as the Osasuna man and Tamboura crash into each other with neither giving an inch. The Mali man comes off worse and appears to be in some pain.
63'JUST WIDE! Moukandjo races on to a pass played in behind the Mali defence. He charges down the outside of Coulibaly and takes up possession inside the area, before shooting from a tight angle. His effort bobbles across the face of goal and then goes out for a goal-kick.
61'Sako has been quiet so far in the second half, but he finally comes to life down the left flank. He gets past Oyongo and is then clattered into by N'Koulou, who takes the ball away. That could quite easily have been a penalty.
59'After a bit of a delay, Chedjou eventually takes the free-kick. The centre-back attempted to curl the ball over the wall, while also looking for it to dip under the crossbar. But Diakite in the goal watched it sail harmlessly over.
57'Fantastic skill by Salli! The little midfielder charges forward, running at the Cameroon defence while keeping the ball in the air with a series of headers, somewhat imitating a seal. Eventually it drops down for him and he cuts inside Coulibaly, who commits a foul.
55'Cameroon are starting to resort to aimless long balls from the back. Even during their frustrated spells in the first half they were still looking to use shorter passes. Unsurprisingly, Salli is unable to make the most of N'Koulou's ball, with Diakite nudging him out of the way.
53'Good defending by Coulibaly as he covers over to the left to deal with Moukandjo. The attacker tries to make ground down the right and cross, but the Mali centre-back pokes the ball behind for a corner, which itself ultimately comes to nothing.
51'The second half hasn't really got going yet. Cameroon appear more willing to commit men forward, with the service to Aboubakar noticeably better so far. However, Mali are looking particularly happy to sit back.
49'It's a decent delivery from Moukandjo and Aboubakar looks to get on the end of it. However, Sylla beats him to it and flicks the ball on to the Cameroon man, with it swiftly going out for a goal-kick.
48'Coulibaly hasn't had a great start to the second half. On this occasion is goes in hard on Aboubakar and catches him late, conceding a free-kick towards the left flank. What can Cameroon muster here?
47'Aboubakar sees his chance with little more than a minute played. The Porto forward controls a pass and is surprisingly given a lot of space by Coulibaly, allowing him to get a shot away. However, it sails comfortably wide of the top-right corner.
46'Off we go for the second half. Can these two be separated? We will find out over the course of the next 45 minutes!
Mali 0-0 Cameroon: The referee blows his whistle to end an entertaining first half. Cameroon came into the contest as favourites and among those fancied to win the tournament. Though Mali have produced a fine first-half display, looking particularly dangerous on the counterattack. Proceedings seemed to peter out as half-time approached, but there is plenty left in this, with Cameroon's frontline surely set to wake up in the second period.
45' + 1'HALF-TIME!
45'There will be 1 minute added on here.
43'Salli drops a free-kick delivery in the penalty area from about 40 yards. There are plenty of bodies in the danger area and Choupo-Moting manages to get a header to it, though his effort sails comfortably wide of the target.
41'CHANCE FOR CAMEROON! Fine cross from Bedimo out on the left flank, with the delivery finding its way all the way through to Moukandjo at the back post. The attackers gets a header away, but he nods wide under pressure from Tamboura.
39'N'Diaye looks a little sheepish now! The midfielder catches Choupo-Moting, as the Schalke man marches towards goal and he is quick to leave the scene as he looks to avoid picking up a second yellow card.
37'Contentious call there. Mustapha Yatabare again tries to get in behind the Cameroon defence to bring down a lofted pass and he manages to get a wild half-volley away, which ultimately goes over. But again, the forward was flagged offside, even though replays seem to suggest that a defender nudged it on to him. 35'Glorious pass from Keita! The Roma man spots the run of Mustapha Yatabare from a deep position and he plays the ball over the Cameroon defence. The forward meets it with a header and tests Ondoa, who deals with it theatrically, although the assistant's flag is up for offside.
33'Mustapha Yatabare causes problems again as he latches on to a clever lofted pass from his brother Sambou. The forward gets away from the grasp of N'Koulou and shoots left-footed, with Ondoa palming it wide when he should have left it.
31'Cameroon are starting to look a little frustrated out there. They are struggling to exploit their possession when they do find themselves on the ball, while Mali are having a lot of joy on the break, even if they haven't made the most of their chances.
29'ONDOA TO THE RESCUE! Mali are lightning fast on the counterattack and they catch Cameroon seriously short at the back. Sako runs at Oyongo and then breezes past him as if he wasn't there. The Wolves man opts to shoot instead of finding Yatabare in the area, but the Cameroonian goalkeeper makes the save.
27'Aboubakar threatens to burst into life as he picks up the ball in a deep position, drives at the Mali defence, skips past one defender and then shapes to shoot. But ultimately the Porto man is blocked off.
25'N'Diaye becomes the first player to earn a yellow card here today as he cynically pulls back Loe in midfield. Cameroon fail to make much from the resulting free-kick, though, as Mustapha Yatabare heads clear.
24'Yellow Card Mamoutou N'Diaye
24'Choupo-Moting seemingly sparks into life as he races away from his man, turns towards goal and then blasts from distance. But his effort is sliced high and wide. Not very good at all.
22'Cameroon have been a little disappointing so far. Their talented attack has been somewhat stifled until now, with Moukandjo, Choupo-Moting and Aboubakar generally quiet.
20'Tamboura is a lucky man there! Oyongo chased the ball down and, although it had already gone out of play, the Mali left-back produced a ridiculous challenge, swiping away at his counterpart in mid-air. Luckily for him he escaped unpunished simply due to play already coming to a halt.
19'More Cameroon pressure. A cross is lofted into the danger from the right flank and Drissa Diakite finds himself trying to out-jump two attackers. Aboubakar can't quite reach the ball, but Choupo-Moting does and his header is tipped over by Soumbeila Diakite.
18'CRUCIAL TACKLE! Vincent Aboubakar finally comes to life in attack as he bursts into the area and tries to get a shot away from a tight angle, but Drissa Diakite is there to snuff out the danger.
17'Substitution Eyong Enoh out for Franck Kom
17'And there is the change. A few minutes after seemingly coming on for Bedimo, Kom now takes the place of Enoh, who is unable to continue.
15'Another lovely move by Mali. Moukandjo is robbed in the attacking third and Keita springs a counterattack. He swiftly picks out Mustapha Yatabare, who cleverly beats his man on the halfway line and plays the ball out to the right. N'Diaye then crosses in towards the dangerman in attack, but Chedjou vitally heads away.
14'There does seem to be a bit of confusion here. Enoh is in some pain now and, while he seeks medical attention, Bedimo appears to set to be brought off. However, he seems to have made a miraculous recovery and Kom heads back to the bench.
12'MALI MISS AGAIN! Another glorious opportunity goes begging for Kasperczak's men. Sako delivers a fine cross from the right, after his corner is partially clears. Ondoa tries to come and collect, only to completely miss it. However, he is not punished and Mustapha Yatabare can only head wide of the open goal.
11'MALI DENIED! Mustapha Yatabare finds himself released into the left side of the area by the impressive Sako and he fires a fierce left-footed effort towards goal, but Ondoa palms it away brilliantly.
10'What a waste from Mali. Sako tries to play the corner into the danger area, but the ball went out of play before it found its way into the area.
9'Sako has started very brightly out on the left for Mali. Again he faces Oyongo and manages to curls a cross in after jolting past the right-back. However, as before, N'Koulou clears behind the goal.
8'This isn't great news for Finke. Bedimo is down and appears to be in some pain. The left-back, one of Cameroon's more experienced players, rampaged forward and was ultimately felled after riding a couple of challenges. There didn't appear to be that much contact, but he is struggling.
6'Sako comes across to take the corner and plants the ball in the danger area, but Cameroon are swift to clear their lines. Though any chance of a counterattack is quickly vanquished as Salli gives the ball away.
5'Good play by Sako as the Wolves man allows a pass to run past him, deceiving Oyongo and then racing on to it again. He squeezes a cross into the danger area, but K'Koulou puts it behind.
4'Scrappy start to proceedings. Cameroon are unsurprisingly seeing more of the ball during the early exchanges, though their distribution has been by no means impressive. The pitch itself seems to be a bit uneven, which isn't playing into the hands of Finke's men.
2'Cameroon win a free-kick inside the first minute as Taboura goes in hard on Moukandjo and brings the attack down out on the right flank. After a bit of a delay, Oyongo curls a lovely delivery into the area and the goalkeeper manages to punch it away, although not particularly convincingly.
1'Off we go! Cameroon get us started in Malabo.
The two teams have emerged from the tunnel and are on the pitch. Kick-off is just a few moments away!
Cameroon starting XI: Ondoa, Oyongo, Chedjou, N'Koulou, Bedimo, Enoh, Loe, Choupo-Moting, Salli, Moukandjo, Aboubakar.
Mali starting XI: Soumbeila Diakite, Wague, Drissa Diakite, Salif Coulibaly, Tamboura, Yacouba Sylla, Keita, Sako, Sambou Yatabare, Mamoutou N'Diaye, Mustapha Yatabare.
Referee: J. Sikazwe
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon faced the Eagles of Mali in their 2015 CAF African Cup of Nations, Group D opening match at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Both African giants were targeting the three points, but ended with a goal each.
Sambou Yatabare scored the first goal in the game in the 71st minute for Mali. Cameroon levelled in the 84th minute through an Ambroise Oyongo goal.
Eagles of Mali pressed hard to get a victory as the underdogs in the game and a team yet to beat the Indomitable Lions in an Afcon tournament.
The two sides have met twice, in a 1-1 draw in 1972 and Cameroon winning in 2002 by 3-0.
The Eagles finished in third place in 2012 and 2013 tournaments and will be looking to the experienced captain for leadership and inspiration, Seydou Keita.
The Volker Finke-led side missed the services of captain, Stephane Mbia due to suspension.
Mbia will be out due to suspension after receiving a red card against Cote d'Ivoire during the final match of the qualifiers, but he said it’s important they get ready for the tournament.
However, Mbia said they need to be well prepared for the tournament and also heaped praise on the German tactician.
“The Cameroon team is in a rebuilding stage, but we need to be well prepared for this 2015 Afcon finals which is very important for our country and for us players,” said Mbia.
“We are also here to prepare for the 2019 Afcon that will take place at home.
“He (Finke) has been able to impose his decisions and discipline which will be our strength in the coming years. We are all pulling in the same direction and if you have team-mates who are all prepared to work for each other – I think that shows what the mood within the squad is like.”
On the other hand, Coach of the Eagles, Henryk Kasperczak, said the opening game is always very important to build up confidence for the rest of the competition.
“Cameroon are experiencing a transition phase with a new generation of players as Mali are,” said Kasperczak.
“Even if the two teams appear as favourites, all the fixtures in this Group will be crucial to qualify to the quarter-finals."
The match started at 20:00 (Cameroon time).
Live Commentary Source: Goal.com
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