AFCON: Amad Diallo strike and own goal force Ivory Coast and Cameroon draw

Defending champions Ivory Coast opened the scoring just after the hour mark. Manchester United winger Amad Diallo produced a powerful strike from just outside the penalty area in the 51st minute, beating Cameroon goalkeeper Devis Epassy to give the Elephants the lead.

It was Diallo's second goal of the tournament, having also scored the winner in Ivory Coast's 1-0 victory over Mozambique in their opening game.

Cameroon responded quickly. Just five minutes later, Junior Tchamadeu's shot from the right side deflected off Ivorian defender Ghislain Konan and looped over the goalkeeper into the net, bringing the five-time African champions level at 1-1.

The draw keeps both teams at the top of Group F, one point ahead of Mozambique, who beat Gabon 3-2 earlier in the day.

With the top two teams in each group guaranteed places in the last 16 and the best four third-placed sides also progressing, Ivory Coast and Cameroon remain firmly in control of their knockout-stage fate.

Earlier in the match, both sides had chances to take the lead. Cameroon hit the crossbar through Christian Kofane in the first half, while Ivory Coast saw a Franck Kessié goal ruled out for offside.

In the closing stages, Cameroon's Bryan Mbeumo tested the Ivorian defence with a dangerous free-kick that went narrowly wide.

Both teams will now prepare for their final group fixtures with progression to the knockout rounds already all but assured, setting up another intense day of action in AFCON Group F.

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