Ireland's World Cup opponents Cameroon began the defence of their African Nations crown with an unspectacular 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Mali. A superb long-range shot by Patrick Mboma, completely out of the blue in an otherwise tedious match, gave the 1990 World Cup quarter-finalists a narrow victory as the competition got underway in the modest surrounds of southern city Sikasso.
Cameroon, the only African country to have reached the last eight at the World Cup, looked vulnerable in defence and disjointed in attack as their strikers were caught offside six times in the first half alone, with Mboma missing two excellent chances in an otherwise subdued game. Newcastle United striker Lomana Tresor Lua Lua caused the Cameroon defence numerous problems and will feel aggrieved not to have scored following a prodigious 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, Senegal confirmed their superiority over Egypt when Lamine Diatta scrambled in a goal from a corner just seven minutes from time to give them a 1-0 win as Sunday's three games produced a meagre two goals between them. Senegal qualified for the World Cup at Egypt's expense and proved the achievement was not a fluke as French-based Diatta took advantage of a mistake by goalkeeper Essam El-Haddary to head in the only goal.
In the final game of the day, South Africa, semi-finalists in Nigeria and Ghana two years ago and runners-up in Burkina Faso in 1998, could do no better than their 0-0 stalemate with Burkino Faso, the rank outsiders in group B.
Filed by Shane Murray
