Cameroon 1-1 Zambia Match Highlights (Aboubakar penalty earns Lions point in Limbe )

Collins Mbesuma of Zambia

Cameroon settled for a point at home to Zambia in Saturday’s Group B game in the 2018 World Cup qualifying series in Limbe.

Collins Mbesuma opened scoring for the visitors before Vincent Aboubakar scored from the penalty spot to give his side their second point of the campaign.

Coach Hugo Broos made two changes to the starting XI that drew against Algeria but he kept his front line of Aboubakar and Edgar Salli intact while Zambian coach Wesdon Nyirenda made four changes to the side that lost at home to Nigeria last month.

After sitting back to soak up the early pressure, Zambia surged forward and Chisamba Lungu sent a cross to Mbesuma which the big striker could not control towards goal.

Match Highlights

Zambia were luckier moments later on 34 minutes as Lungu once again ran down the right flank after a short free kick and sent in a cross which Mbesuma got down to smack into the net beyond Fabrice Ondoa.

The Lions had to gather their nerves after going behind and their pressure on the visitors’ defense paid off when a Zambian defender handled the ball inside the box.

Aboubakar it was who stepped up to the plate and sent Kennedy Mweene the wrong way to equalize in first half added time.

The Lions returned to the second half with more zest but they would be undone by Mweene’s resolute goalkeeping which at one time left the veteran in a heap after colliding with an on-rushing opponent.

But Zambia held on to earn their first point and breathe life into their campaign after their opening day defeat at home.

Cameroon failed to make home advantage count but would be consoled by the point which cements their second position following Algeria’s 3-1 loss to Nigeria in Uyo in the other match of Group B.

Nigeria sit on top of the ‘group of death’ with six points, four more than Cameroon with Zambia in third and favourites Algeria bottom.