Cameroon started their 2019 Africa Cup Of Nations Group F campaign with a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday evening at Ismailia Stadium.
The Indomitable Lions came to the game having lost key forward Joel Tagueu, who was recently withdrawn from the tournament due to a heart defect. As such, their captain and Paris Saint-Germain attacker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was looked upon for inspiration.
Christian Bassogog had an early chance for the defending champions in the fifth minute after going clear on the left side of the box but his effort missed the top corner by a whisker, while Pele almost snatched the lead for Guinea-Bissau at the other end seven minutes later.
Bassogog should have found the breakthrough on the half-hour mark after being setup by Karl Ekambi, but the China-based striker glaringly struck his shot over the bar with only the goalkeeper Jonas Mendes to beat, which proved to be the final chance of the half.
Cameroon started the second stanza with a lot of energy and Choupo-Moting nearly broke the deadlock five after the break with a left-footed curling strike that was parried away by Mendes just minutes before Frederic Mendy blazed over the net gaping for Guinea.
Clarence Seedorf's troops finally found the breakthrough in the 66th minute thanks to centre-back Banana Yaya, who nodded home a corner from Ekambi.
Stephane Bahoken took the game away from Guinea-Bissau as he gave Seedorf's men a two-goal cushion three minutes later with a low shot just moments after coming off from the bench.
In an attempt to claw their way back in to the clash, Piqueti nearly pulled a goal back for Cande's troops with 18 minutes remaining after his gliding header inside the box came off the bottom post. In the end, the Indomitable Lions were able to see out the closing stages to claim three points and a clean sheet.