Mali coach happy with Cameroon draw

Mali coach Henryk Kasperczak came away content with his team's display despite their failure to hang onto a lead in their 1-1 Africa Cup of Nations draw with Cameroon on Tuesday.

"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," said the Pole after the Group D encounter in Malabo.

Sambou Yatabare gave the Eagles a second-half lead only for Ambroise Oyongo's late goal to secure a draw for Cameroon in front of a packed crowd in Equatorial Guinea's capital.

"Physically we kept going right to the end and there were some good combinations going forward. Ok, there was a positional error at the back for the goal but I think it is always difficult at the start of a competition like this."

Mustapha Yatabare, the brother of goalscorer Sambou, added: "I think overall we played really well, with the necessary aggression. We wanted to come away with the win, but I am satisfied."

Meanwhile, Cameroon's veteran coach Volker Finke insisted that his side deserved to come away with a share of the spoils after pouring men forward towards the end.

"I think the way we played in the second half was that of a team trying to win a match. We played with five all-out attacking players," said the German. "You have to respect the fact we only drew, but the second-half performance was not bad at all."