AFCON 2025: Eyong’s Early Goal Sends Cameroon Past Gabon
2 min read
By Sedara Philip
Cameroon opened their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over neighbors Gabon in a keenly contested Group F encounter at the Stade Adrar in Agadir, Morocco.
Karl Etta Eyong was the hero for the Indomitable Lions, scoring his first international goal early in the match to secure all three points and help Cameroon steady the ship following a turbulent build-up to the tournament.
The decisive moment came in the sixth minute after Gabon were caught in possession deep inside their own half. Bryan Mbeumo capitalized on the defensive lapse and slipped a perfectly timed pass to Eyong, who made no mistake from close range, drilling his finish between the legs of Panthers goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba.
Although the goal was initially flagged for offside, a VAR review overturned the decision and confirmed the opener for the Levante forward.
Cameroon’s fast start set the tone for a physical and evenly matched contest. The five-time African champions enjoyed a slight edge in the first half, controlling key areas of the pitch and limiting Gabon’s attacking threat.
The Panthers struggled to create clear chances before the break and failed to register a shot on target, leaving goalkeeper Devis Mpassy largely untroubled.
Gabon sought to change the momentum midway through the first half with the introduction of star forwards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina, both returning from injury concerns.
Their presence injected urgency into the Panthers’ attack, with Aubameyang coming closest to an equalizer just after the hour mark, turning sharply in the box before firing narrowly over the crossbar.
Denis Bouanga also had a promising opportunity soon after, but a slip at a crucial moment allowed the Cameroon defense to recover and maintain their narrow lead.
Cameroon, meanwhile, remained compact and disciplined at the back, managing the game effectively as Gabon pushed forward in search of a breakthrough.
Despite late pressure from the Panthers, the Indomitable Lions held firm to seal a vital opening-day victory, joining defending champions Ivory Coast in the winners’ column after the Elephants defeated Mozambique earlier on Wednesday.
Cameroon will now turn their attention to a high-profile Group F showdown against Ivory Coast on Sunday, a fixture that could shape the group’s outcome.
Gabon, meanwhile, must regroup quickly as they look to get their campaign back on track when they face Mozambique in their next match.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
