Cameroon Silences Critics as AFCON Kicks Off
Agadir, December 26 – The road to Agadir was paved with administrative chaos, conflicting coaching appointments, and the glaring omission of global stars. Yet, when the whistle finally blew on Wednesday, the Indomitable Lions did the only thing that mattered: they played football.
Putting a month of turmoil firmly in the rearview mirror, a youthful and unfamiliar Cameroon side stunned the doubters with a gritty 1-0 victory over neighbors Gabon. It was a win that spoke louder than any press release from the federation, offering a first glimpse of a new era under local coach David Pagou.
The headline act was not a veteran superstar, but 22-year-old Karl Etta Eyong. Just six minutes into the contest, the Arsenal-linked striker pounced on a defensive mix-up in the Panthers’ backline, converting a pass from Bryan Mbeumo to score his first international goal. It was a moment of opportunism that settled nerves and justified Pagou’s bold decision to leave established heavyweights like Andre Onana and Vincent Aboubakar at home.
While the “Brys vs. Pagou” coaching saga and the recent World Cup playoff heartbreak cast a long shadow, the players on the pitch seemed unburdened by the drama. They held their nerve against a dangerous Gabon side, proving that the sum of the team could indeed be greater than its missing individual parts.
Elsewhere in Group F, defending champions Ivory Coast began their title defense with the quiet confidence of a team that knows how to win. In Marrakesh, the Elephants secured a controlled 1-0 victory over Mozambique. The breakthrough came from Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, who fired low past the keeper in the 49th minute following a knockdown from Frank Kessie. It wasn’t a rout, but it was professional—a hallmark of head coach Emerse Fae’s tenure.
Meanwhile, Group E offered a masterclass in dominance from Algeria. In front of a raucous, pro-Algerian crowd in Rabat, the Fennecs dismantled ten-man Sudan 3-0. Riyad Mahrez was in vintage form, scoring twice and orchestrating the attack with a flair that suggested Algeria is ready to reclaim the throne they lost after 2019. The 2019 champions looked revitalized, mixing defensive grit with the attacking spark of wonderkid Ibrahim Maza, who came off the bench to seal the rout.
The drama of the day, however, was reserved for Burkina Faso. Trailing Equatorial Guinea late into the second half, the Stallions staged a stunning stoppage-time heist. Down 1-0 in the 90th minute, they struck twice through Georgie Minoungou and Edmond Tapsoba in the 95th and 98th minutes, snatching a 2-1 victory from the jaws of defeat.
This opening round was a litmus test for the “new guard” of African football. For Cameroon, the victory validates—at least for now—the risky strategy of hitting the reset button. By fielding a younger squad hungry to prove itself, they may have found a cohesion that was lacking in previous tournaments filled with superstar egos.
Conversely, Algeria’s performance sends a warning shot to the rest of the continent. After a quiet few years, the Fennecs look dangerous, combining experience (Mahrez) with exciting youth (Maza). The narrative of the tournament is already shaping up to be a battle between the disciplined collective of the champions (Ivory Coast) and the resurgent flair of the challengers.
“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.” – Amad Diallo, Ivory Coast Forward
Diallo’s comment reflects the hunger within the Ivorian camp. They aren’t just happy to be here as defending champs; they feel they have another level to reach. It’s a terrifying prospect for their rivals.
The stage is now perfectly set for a blockbuster clash on December 28. A revitalized Cameroon will meet the disciplined Ivory Coast in Marrakesh in a match that will likely decide the winner of Group F. For the Lions, it’s a chance to prove the opener wasn’t a fluke; for the Elephants, it’s an opportunity to remind the “new kids” who really runs the continent.
