Mali and Cameroon clashed in Group D’s opener on Tuesday night in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, with the Indomitable Lions expected to bag the three points.

However, the match surprisingly ended in a stalemate with Mali dictating terms.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw after the Malians were the first side to find the net through the man-of-the match, Sambou Yatabare in the 71st minute. In less than 15 minutes of play, the Lions found an equaliser through Ambroise Oyongo towards the dying the minutes of the game.

Although the match was dominated by harsh tackles and players displayed their physical presence, the Malians enjoyed an upper hand through their tactical discipline and technical ability.

From the beginning of the match, Henryk Kasperczak’s charges took the game to the Indomitable Lions probing for an opening goal, but one man stood between their glory and that was the keeper Fabrice Ondoa.

The 19-year-old Barcelona man made numerous saves to keep Volker Finke’s side in the game as Seydou Keita managed to dictate terms in the middle of the park.

Although both sides shared the spoils, one could be tempted to say Mali deserved the three points, considering their possession of the ball and the ability to split the Cameroonian defence.

Both sides will have to dig deep in their abilities and go for a kill aiming for the maximum points in their next matches to progress through to the next round.

In the first match of the group, 10-man Cote d’Ivoire played to a 1-1 draw against Guinea.

Mali will face the Elephants on Saturday while Cameroon are set to battle it out against the National Elephants at Estadio de Malabo.