On a nervy night in Agadir on 24 December 2025, Cameroon started their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with exactly what the doctor ordered: a win. The Indomitable Lions beat Gabon 1-0 in their opening Group F match, thanks to an early strike from Karl Etta Eyong that stood after a VAR review. It was tense, it was tight, and it was important.

VAR drama as Etta Eyong puts Cameroon ahead

The decisive moment arrived inside the first ten minutes. Bryan Mbeumo slipped a clever pass into the box, and Etta Eyong stayed calm to slot home. The flag went up. The hearts sank. Then VAR checked, and the call swung Cameroon’s way. Goal given.

Some reports timed it at six minutes, others at nine, but the details beyond the stopwatch were clear: Cameroon had the lead, and it changed the night. Etta Eyong’s finish rewarded a bright start and set a tone of grit over gloss for the rest of the match.

“VAR got it right, and Cameroon kept their nerve.”

A tense AFCON 2025 Group F opener in Agadir

This was never going to be an open game. Cameroon and Gabon know each other well, and Group F offers little margin for error. Once ahead, Cameroon managed the moments. They slowed the tempo when needed, squeezed space, and tried to control second balls.

Gabon had their spells. They pushed especially as the second half wore on, but found little joy in the penalty area. When Cameroon sat deep, Gabon struggled to turn possession into clear chances. It was a classic AFCON pattern: the first goal mattered, and it set the chessboard for the rest of the night.

Pagou’s patched-up Lions show steel amid turmoil

Perhaps the most impressive part of this win is the context. Cameroon’s build-up was messy. There was a late change of head coach, with David Pagou taking charge after Marc Brys was dismissed. Selection debates swirled. There was noise everywhere.

And yet, the team delivered a calm, mature display when it counted. They did it without some of the biggest names, too.

• Vincent Aboubakar
• Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
• André Onana

Those are major omissions for any squad. Even so, Cameroon found a way. Etta Eyong took his chance. Mbeumo provided the key pass. The back line kept its shape under pressure.

“Missing Aboubakar, Onana, Choupo‑Moting — and still a win. That’s character.”

Baleba blow adds to the test

Not everything went to plan. Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba could not continue after half-time because of injury. Losing a ball-winner and ball-carrier in the middle is never ideal, especially when defending a narrow lead. But Cameroon adapted. They tightened lines, stayed compact, and bought time when they needed it.

It took collective focus to see the game out. In tournament play, these are the minutes that build belief in the dressing room.

Gabon’s opening-day streak snapped

Gabon arrived with a good recent history on Matchday 1 at AFCON: unbeaten in their last five openers (four wins, one draw). That run ended here. They were competitive, they created moments, and they may feel the scoreline could have been different with one kinder break. But they lacked the final touch and the final pass more often than not.

Cameroon’s early goal forced Gabon to chase. It tilted the night toward a chess match of patience, and Cameroon won that battle.

“Gabon needed more bite in the box — the xG tells the story.”

Key numbers: shots, xG and the flow of the game

The stat sheet backs up the eye test of a close contest:

• Shots: Cameroon 13 – Gabon 12
• Expected goals (xG): Cameroon 1.0 – Gabon 0.66

Cameroon had a slight edge in shot volume and chance quality. Gabon hung around, but Cameroon’s best chance was the one they finished. After that, it was about control. When Gabon pushed late, Cameroon’s shape held. There were no wild swings, no frantic end-to-end chaos. It was a professional, group-stage sort of win.

Why the early goal mattered so much

In AFCON football, early goals rewire matches. Cameroon didn’t need to chase, so they managed risk. The midfield sat that little bit deeper. The full-backs picked their moments. And with VAR confirming the opener, the emotional lift was obvious. It allowed Cameroon to play the second half on their terms, even with the Baleba setback.

For Gabon, the task became harder. They had to force the issue against an opponent happy to spoil and slow. It is mentally taxing, and that is where top tournaments are often decided.

What it means for Group F

The result puts Cameroon level with Ivory Coast at the top of Group F after the opening round. That keeps their path in their own hands before a high-stakes meeting with the Elephants later in the group. Win your opener, and pressure shifts onto others; it’s a simple tournament truth.

For Gabon, this is a setback but not a knockout blow. Their shape was sound for long stretches, and they were in the game until the end. Improve the final action, and they are right back in the mix.

The bottom line

This was not a night for fireworks. It was a night for calm heads. Cameroon, amid a noisy build-up and missing several stars, found theirs. Etta Eyong’s early strike, green-lit by VAR, was the difference in Agadir. The rest was about game craft: compact lines, smart choices, and a refusal to blink.

In tournaments, the first step matters. Cameroon took theirs with a steady stride.