GROUP D remains perfectly even through two rounds of matches thanks to Guinea’s Ibrahima Traore, who denied Cameroon victory with a superb strike on Saturday night.
Benjamin Moukandjo had put the Indomitable Lions into an early lead but Traore rifled a left-footed effort past Fabrice Ondoa minutes before half-time and the two sides could not be separated after the break.
Receiving the ball with his back to goal and four opposition players surrounding him, the Borussia Monchengladbach winger rode one challenge and wriggled into space before dispatching a skidding drive into the bottom corner.
Guinea can take enormous credit to remain in contention for a place in the knockout stages going into the final round of group matches. Michel Dussuyer’s young team held Cote d’Ivoire’s superstars to a 1-1 draw in their first game.
“We have no fear,” Traore said before facing Cameroon. “We knew from the beginning that we were a team nobody would count as a favourite, but we are not scared of any opponent, and we have nothing to lose, so we can simply play our game.”
Cote d’Ivoire drew 1-1 with Mali on Saturday, and Mali had already drawn 1-1 with Cameroon. That means – as every single match so far has been a 1-1 draw – that if either of the last two games in the group end level, the drawing of lots will seemingly be required to decide who progresses to the next round.
Guinea will look to Traore once again against Mali. Only captain Kamil Zayatte and goalkeeper Naby Yattara have more caps than the 26-year-old, who has mostly featured from the bench for Gladbach this year but has impressed in the Europa League.
