Cameroon and Guinea draw to leave Group D balanced for final games

A dramatic late finish saw Guinea and Cameroon draw 1-1 in Group D of the African Cup of Nations.

Cameroon took the lead after some woeful goalkeeping by Naby Yattara. Benjamin Moukandjo curled in a low corner from the left, and the ball passed Aurelien Chedjou, and bounced off Yattara into the goal.

The game was a scrappy affair, with neither side gaining control of the match. Guinea, though, equalised against the run of play, when Ibrahima Traore did brilliantly to spin his marker and fire in a shot from the edge of the area.

In the second half, Cameroon pressured, with Guinea sitting ever deeper to defend with very little possession of their own. However, Cameroon continued to create many clear cut chances, and when they did, Vincent Aboubakar managed to send his header wide when presented with an open goal.

Stephane Mbia had a free header from eight yards to win the game with just added time remaining, and he wasted the chance by sending his effort wide. Two minutes later, Ibrahima Conte was denied an obvious penalty, leaving all sides in Group D tied with just a game remaining.

10’ - YATTARA SAVE - Aboubakar volleys with a controlled sidefoot, just in front of the penalty spot, and Yattara dives to his right to palm behind for a corner.

11’ - YATTARA ERROR - Aboubakar slices a volley into the air from close range, and Mbia can only head straight at the keeper. Then Yattara rushes out to a pass, slides in with his feet and sends the ball against Camara and it bounces just wide of the post.

13’ - GOAL! Guinea 0-1 Cameroon. Moukandjo scores - The corner is curled in from the left, it flies past Chedjou, but it's Moukandjo's corner that strikes Yattara and bounces of him and into the net.

42’ - GOAL! Cameroon 1-1 Guinea. Traore scores - He receives the ball with his back to goal, swiftly turns his marker and smashes a shot into the far corner, and Ondoa has no chance.

48’ - TRAORE CROSS - Traore curls to the back post, and the cross is just inches wide of the top corner.

64’ - ABOUBAKAR MISS - Aboubakar gets to a cross from the left after some quick passing, and with the whole goal to aim at, the keeper bypassed, he sends it wide.

69’ - SALLI SHOT - Cameroon finally get behind the defence, a cross bounces into the path of Salli after Aboubakar attempts to control, and his shot is deflected just wide.

75’ - ONDOA SAVE - The ball is worked to Keita, lurking in the box on the left, and his shot at goal is tipped over.

90’ - MBIA MISS - Mbia has a header, unmarked, eight yards out with the goalkeeper static, and he thunders his effort wide. A terrible waste.

90+2’ - PENALTY DENIED - Conte drives towards the goal, is ready to take on the keeper, and he's tripped by Guihoata, but the referee fails to give an obvious penalty.

All teams in Group D have two points, two goals scored, two goals conceded and two points.

Are Cameroon going to waste their position of strength? They have one of the strongest squads in the competition, and demonstrated their theoretical superiority by creating more chances and dominating possession. But they still should have lost, with only a poor refereeing decision denying Guinea a last minute penalty. Group D is finely balanced with just one game left for Cameroon to make the most of their talents.

Benjamin Moukandjo (Cameroon): In a game which was rarely entertaining because of the quality of the game, Moukandjo displayed the most impressive technique on the pitch, and the most subtle attacking play. If Cameroon had better strikers, he would be even more effective for his side.

Guinea: Yattara 4, Pogba 5, Sankoh 5, Camara 5, Sylla 5, Constant 5, Conte 6, Fofana 6, Soumah 6, M. Yattara 6, Traore 6. Subs: Cisse 6, Keita 6, Kamano 6.

Cameroon: Ondoa 6; Nkoulou 6, Chedjou 6, Oyongo 5, Bedimo 6, Mbia 6, Loe 5, Choupo 6, Moukandjo 6, Salli 6, Aboubakar 5. Subs: Guihoata 6, Etoundi 6, Kom 6.