Defending champions Cameroon, bidding for their third successive African Nations Cup crown and fifth in all, suffered a setback in their opening match of the 2004 tournament on Sunday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria in Sousse.
That result allowed four-time winners Egypt to take top spot in Group C thanks to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Zimbabwe in Sfax while, in Tunis, Guinea also recovered from a goal down to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in Group A.
Veteran striker Patrick Mboma, recalled to the squad just before the tournament after the intervention of President Paul Biya, put Cameroon ahead after 43 minutes and Brahim Zafour levelled for Algeria in the 52nd minute.
The build-up to the clash in Sousse was overshadowed by the all-in-one body suits of Cameroon, who were given the go-ahead just hours before the kickoff to wear a garment world governing body Fifa considers illegal.
The African Football Confederation said the reigning champions can wear the body suit in first round fixtures, but must change if they reach the knockout stages.
Cameroon deservedly took the lead when Mboma, joint leading scorer at the 2002 finals in Mali, rose unchallenged to head the ball into the net.
But Algeria levelled seven minutes into the second half as a corner fell loose inside the penalty area and half-time substitute Zafour drilled a low shot past Kameni.
Cameroon twice came close to regaining the lead within 60 seconds. A Mohamadou Idrissou header from a corner rebounded off the crossbar and Samuel Eto’o broke through, only to waste his chance.
In Sfax, Egypt fought back from a goal down to defeat newcomers Zimbabwe 2-1.
Zimbabwe skipper Peter Ndlovu had put his country in front a minute after the break when he coolly headed home a cross from the left past stranded goalkeeper Nader El Sayed.
But Egypt fought back with Tamer Abdelhamid getting the equaliser after 57 minutes and, five minutes later, substitute Mohammed Barakat grabbed the winner with a header.
”We played well in the first half but I want to believe that the pressure of this being our first game got to us,” said Egypt coach Mohsen Salah.
”But in the second half I told the players to press harder for a goal. And the Zimbabwean goal only seemed to motivate my team.”
In Tunis, former Liverpool striker Titi Camara inspired Guinea to a second half fightback and a 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Camara, who now plays his football in Qatar, played a telling role throughout the match and scored the equaliser that was to set up Guinea’s win.
Ekakanga Masudi had given DRC a first half lead but after Camara’s leveller, it was Guinea who finished the strongest with Pascal Feindounou scoring the winner.
”We deserved to be behind at half-time, but I told the players at the break that they have to use their strengths and after the interval they played with more freedom and found plenty of space,” said the team’s French coach Michel Dussuyer.
The result puts Guinea equal top of Group A with hosts Tunisia who defeated Rwanda 2-1 on Saturday. – Sapa-AFP