Diallo scores as Ivory Coast, Cameroon share spoils in AFCON Group F clash
Manchester United winger Amad Diallo found the net for Africa Cup of Nations defending champions Ivory Coast as they played out a 1-1 draw with Cameroon on Sunday, a result that saw both sides remain joint leaders of Group F.
Diallo opened the scoring in the 51st minute of an entertaining Marrakesh encounter, registering his second goal of the tournament after netting the winner against Mozambique four days earlier.
Ivory Coast’s advantage lasted just five minutes, as Ghislain Konan inadvertently deflected a strike from Junior Tchamadeu past his own goalkeeper, allowing five-time champions Cameroon to restore parity.
Ivory Coast and Cameroon are now level on four points apiece, one ahead of Mozambique, who earlier defeated Gabon 3-2 in Agadir.
The top two teams in each group advance to the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed sides across the six groups.
The fierce rivalry between the Ivorian Elephants and the Cameroonian Indomitable Lions is one of AFCON’s most storied, dating back to their first meeting in 1970 in Sudan.
Cameroon went into the Marrakesh showdown holding a 5-1 advantage in head-to-head victories, with two other encounters decided by penalty shootouts — both won by Ivory Coast.
Among the 35,165 spectators were La Liga stars and French internationals Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid, alongside Barcelona defender Jules Kounde.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe of South Africa was also in attendance, having earlier watched Mozambique’s victory over Gabon.
Diallo had the first clear opening of the match, firing wide after meeting a cutback. Cameroon responded when Christian Kofane struck the crossbar midway through the first half following a cross from Tchamadeu.
The Manchester United winger remained a constant threat down the right flank, with one of his deliveries finding an unmarked Vakoun Bayo, who headed over the bar.
Just before the interval, Diallo surged into the area but was denied by an excellent sliding challenge from Cameroon captain Nouhou Tolo.
The second half began at a lively pace, with Ivory Coast skipper Franck Kessie seeing a goal ruled out for offside, while Cameroon’s Danny Namaso hit the woodwork with a deflected effort.
Diallo eventually broke the deadlock when Konan’s lofted pass found him, and he finished clinically from close range, leaving goalkeeper Devis Epassy helpless.
However, Cameroon quickly responded as Tchamadeu’s effort from the edge of the box deflected off Konan, looping over Yahia Fofana and into the net to secure a share of the spoils.