Amad Diallo scores again but Ivory Coast are held 1-1 by Cameroon in a dramatic AFCON Group F match in Marrakesh, leaving both teams level on points
MANCHESTER UNITED winger Amad Diallo scored his second goal of the Africa Cup of Nations as defending champions Ivory Coast drew 1-1 with Cameroon on Sunday.
Diallo broke the deadlock after 51 minutes in Marrakesh, having also scored the winner against Mozambique earlier in the week.
The lead lasted just five minutes before Ivory Coast defender Ghislain Konan deflected a Junior Tchamadeu shot into his own net.
The result leaves both teams tied at the top of Group F with four points each.
Mozambique, who beat Gabon 3-2 earlier, are one point behind in third place.
The top two teams from each group qualify for the round of 16, along with the best four third-placed sides.
The rivalry between the Ivorian Elephants and Cameroonian Indomitable Lions is one of the continent’s greatest, dating back to 1970.
Cameroon had won five of the previous meetings, with Ivory Coast winning two via penalty shootouts.
A crowd of 35,165 in Marrakesh included Real Madrid stars Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, and Barcelona’s Jules Kounde.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe was also present after watching the earlier match in Agadir.
Diallo had the first clear chance of the game but fired wide from a cutback.
Christian Kofane then rattled the crossbar for Cameroon midway through the first half.
Diallo remained a constant threat, setting up an unmarked Vakoun Bayo who headed over.
Cameroon captain Nouhou Tolo produced a superb sliding tackle to deny Diallo just before half-time.
Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessie had a goal disallowed for offside early in the second half.
Danny Namaso then struck the woodwork with a deflected effort for Cameroon.
Diallo finally opened the scoring, latching onto a long Konan pass and finishing left-footed from close range.
Tchamadeu’s shot from the edge of the box then deflected off Konan and looped over goalkeeper Yahia Fofana for the equaliser.
