Amad Diallo’s opener was canceled out by a deflected Junior Tchamadeu strike as Ivory Coast and Cameroon played out a 1-1 draw to remain joint leaders of AFCON Group F.
Reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast played out a high-intensity 1-1 draw against Cameroon at the Marrakesh Stadium on Sunday.
Both continental giants showcased their quality in an entertaining Group F encounter, leaving them level at the top of the standings with four points each.
After a scoreless first half that saw both sides rattle the woodwork, the game burst into life shortly after the interval with two quickfire goals.
The Elephants broke the deadlock in the 51st minute through Amad Diallo, who capped off a swift counter-attack with a clinical strike from outside the penalty area.
However, the lead was short-lived as Cameroon responded just five minutes later.
Junior Tchamadeu’s ambitious effort from a wide angle took a deflection off Ghislain Konan, looping over goalkeeper Yahia Fofana to restore parity and ensure the Indomitable Lions claimed a vital point.
The closing stages were marked by tactical discipline as both teams sought a winner without overcommitting.
Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo came closest to a late decider with a powerful free kick that narrowly missed the target.
The two sides will now look to secure knockout qualification in their final group matches on Wednesday, with Ivory Coast set to face Gabon while Cameroon takes on Mozambique.