Though Cameroon went into this one with background turmoil, as David Pagou took the place of Marc Brys, they got off to the perfect start inside just seven minutes.
A very familiar name once again proved pivotal, as Mbeumo took down Samuel Kotto’s long ball out of defence and laid on Karl Etta Eyong, who fired powerfully beyond Loyce Mbaba.
As Cameroon looked to pile on the pressure, Danny Namaso could only fire wide when receiving Junior Tchamadeu’s squared ball from the right.
It was then that Gabon head coach Thierry Mouyouma made a truly remarkable move, bringing on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as part of a double substitution, though the presence of the iconic ex-Gunner seemed to revive the Panthers’ team spirit, with Denis Bouanga seeing a shot blocked in first-half injury time.
There was certainly no shortage of endeavour in the early second-half minutes, with Mbeumo’s vision almost proving crucial, as he played in an onrushing Tchamadeu with the side of his boot, only for the Stoke man to fire wildly off target.
Indeed, Mbeumo was proving increasingly unplayable for the Gabon backline, and on 55 minutes, he nearly doubled the Indomitable Lions’ advantage, forcing Mbaba into a diving save after beating two markers and producing a rasping shot.
Though Gabon had seen each of their previous five goals arrive after half-time, it increasingly looked as though something truly inspired would be needed for them to wrest back a point.
Aubameyang always seemed the likeliest means to a positive result, and he nearly capitalised on a turnover near the box, but got his feet tangled under pressure at the integral moment.
That was followed by three key moments, with Royce Openda forcing a point-blank save on the charge from Devis Epassy at his near post, before Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe and Frank Magri respectively seeing a shot blocked by Alex Moucketou-Moussounda and a header from a corner sent out of danger by Bruno Ecuele Manga.
Gabon’s status as Group F underdogs wasn’t obvious tonight, and though they suffered their first losing AFCON opener since 2000, they’ll have some encouragement to take into matchday two, when they go up against Mozambique in a must-win clash.
As for Cameroon, their second match – vs the Ivory Coast – could well prove pivotal in the race to top the group, with Pagou’s men aiming to progress past the group stage for only the second time in four editions.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
