A brilliant Amad strike from distance was not enough for Ivory Coast to take all three points against Cameroon in an enthralling group F match at AFCON.
The Manchester United forward let fly from distance in the second half for his second goal of the tournament, before Cameroon equalised shortly after through a deflected finish that sailed over the Ivorian goalkeeper.
The bar had denied both teams in the first half, while Cameroon hit the bar again in the second shortly after Ivory Coast had a strike from Franck Kessie disallowed via VAR for a tight offside. Amad’s United team-mate Bryan Mbeumo also impressed and was key to much of Cameroon’s attacking threat.
The result leaves both sides on four points with one game remaining in the group stages.
Carl Anka and Anantaajith Raghuraman break down the talking points from the game.
How good was Amad’s finish?
Amad’s international career has been a slow one.
The 23-year-old received his first cap in March 2021, but wasn’t selected for the 2023 tournament. Injuries, illness and disrupted playing time for United have limited Amad to only 11 caps in four years before this AFCON started, but he’s making up for lost time in Morocco.
Amad followed up his goal and man-of-the-match performance in the 1-0 win over Mozambique with a goal of the tournament contender against Cameroon. Ghislain Konan’s lofted pass travelled the better part of 20 yards before Amad cushioned it down with the outside of his left foot.
A quick drive towards the edge of the box was followed by a wonderfully shaped shot with his left.
Amad has two goals in two games at AFCON (Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
It took minimal backlift, yet curled with an excellent arc. The sort of effort that became a trademark of Arjen Robben during his Bayern Munich days. A shot that was precise and powerful, leaving goalkeeper Devis Epassy with no hope of preventing the goal.
It’s two goals in two group games for the United man, who has become a key figure in Emerse Fae’s team. This is a side most dangerous when they can get the ball to Amad in space so he can build up momentum and defeat many a full-back one-v-one. With Kessie continuing his late arrivals into the penalty box, Ivory Coast have the tools to hurt the tournament’s strongest sides.
Carl Anka
Why is Mbeumo key for Cameroon?
Cameroon’s 3-5-1-1 shape placed plenty of emphasis on Mbeumo’s free-roaming role behind 19-year-old striker Christian Kofane, who was making his debut.
Their best moments in the first half came from Mbeumo collecting the ball in the half-spaces between the Ivory Coast’s defensive and midfield lines. The first instance came three minutes in, with a reception on the turn and a pass fizzed into Junior Tchamadeu.
A few minutes later, he ran infield as Cameroon circulated possession before drifting back to the outside. Ivory Coast left-back Konan was unsure whether to follow him or not, often leaving Mbeumo in space.
Cameroon’s best chance came from the United forward receiving in space on the turn and threading a pass through to Tchamadeu. He crossed for Kofane, whose shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Yahia Fofana.
(Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
There were times when Mbeumo dropped all the way back into his own half to collect passes from his goalkeeper. On other occasions, he found space between the lines, but his team-mates played a safer pass, prompting frustration.
Amad overshadowed Mbeumo with a stunning goal in this battle between Manchester United’s right-sided forwards. But Mbeumo was involved in the equaliser, attracting defenders before being dispossessed, which left Tchamadeu with space and time to take the shot.
Mbeumo also had a powerful shot from distance that curved wide with 20 minutes to play.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Is the Ivorians’ main strength their midfield?
The reigning champions entered AFCON 2025 in the midst of a transitional period, with Sebastien Haller and Simon Adingra among a list of recognisable names who did not get the call-up from Fae. Ivory Coast had surprised many in the 2023 tournament, and a solid 1-0 win over Mozambique in the opening game served as a reminder of their threat when on the transition.
Fae’s men surprised Cameroon in the early parts of the first half on Sunday. Rather than defend low in their usual 4-4-2, they instead opted to press high and get full-back Konan and Amad into space. Their attacking roles were made easier thanks to a trio of midfielders getting through all manner of dirty work.
Captain Kessie is one of the more buccaneering central midfielders at the tournament, and he was backed with Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare and Rennes’ Seko Fofana. Kessie should have opened the scoring in the 12th minute after being teed up with a pull-back cross, but his shot from the edge of the box sailed over. This tournament has seen a lot of efforts from distance rather than quick passing moves through deep defences.
There’s a level of technical security and consistency to the Ivory Coast’s midfield trio that should carry the nation deep into the tournament. As the last AFCON demonstrated, it can be better to be the tortoise than the hare.
Carl Anka
More wayward finishing?
Cameroon twice hit the woodwork in this game, starting with a Kofane effort that was pushed onto the crossbar in the first half. There were blocked shots, deflected shots, and more than one speculative effort from long range as two teams most dangerous on the counter-attack reasoned it’d be better to shoot early on the edge of the box, rather than risk losing it and have to track back 40-50 yards.
Both the Ivory Coast and Cameroon will have designs on making the quarters at the very least. Both sides will need to have more finesse and ferocity when moving in and around the opposition’s penalty area.
The Puma Orbita 6 ball, designed for this tournament, is a visual treat. Fans will hope the longer players work with it, the better the edge of the box efforts will become.
Carl Anka
What next for Ivory Coast?
Wednesday, December 31: Gabon, AFCON Group F, 7pm GMT, 2pm ET
What next for Cameroon?
Wednesday, December 31: Mozambique, AFCON Group F, 7pm GMT, 2pm ET