Cote d'Ivoire 1-1 Cameroon recap - Amad Diallo goal is cancelled out by Ghislain Konan own goal as points shared in Marrakech

Amad Diallo starred as defending champions Cote D’Ivoire were forced to settle for a point in an enthralling 1-1 draw against Cameroon in Group F of the Africa Cup of Nations at Stade de Marrakech.

Manchester United forward Diallo was duly rewarded with the opener after 51 minutes, just moments after Cameroon saw a goal chalked off for offside by VAR, but Cameroon would quickly capitalise on poor defending to rescue a point.

Both sides would see chances go begging in the first half as quality in front of goal lacked for the most part.

Diallo would prove to be the live-wire for the defending champions seeing an effort go narrowly over the crossbar inside seven minutes, before Darlin Yongwa came close to giving Cameroon an early lead inside 11 minutes when he arrived at the backpost, only to fire his shot into the side-netting.

Cameroon were denied another chance to take the lead inside 21 minutes when Junior Tchamadeu played in Christian Kofane, who fired his strike goalwards, only to be denied by the crossbar.

Whilst Cote D’Ivoire continued to push, with Seko Fofana blasting his shot from inside the box into the stands and Vakoun Bayo unable to convert his head from in front of goal.

The second half would continue with very much the same intensity as both sides looked to claim an important winner, with Cameroon’s Danny Namso putting a glorious chance wide of the post just seconds after the restart.

Les Elephants captain Franck Kessie thought he had given his side the lead just moments later when he scrambled home the ball into the box of the net, only for VAR to deny him for offside.

Namaso would again come close to opening the scoring for Cameroon when the woodwork would once again come to the rescue for the defending champions to keep things level.

Cote d’Ivoire would find the breakthrough just after 51 seconds when Ghislain Konan played through Diallo with a beautiful ball, who curved his effort into the bottom left corner.

Their lead would not last long as Les Elephants failed to clear the ball from inside the box, with Junior Tchamadeu’s ambitious effort taking a devastating deflection to loop over Yahia Fofana into the top corner.

Kessie would look to respond for the defending champions just moments later when his downward header was miraculously pushed out by Devis Espassy as both sides were forced to settle for a draw.

Cote d’Ivoire face Gabon, whilst Cameroon take on Mozambique in Group F on Wednesday, December 31, with both sides sitting joint top and looking to progress to the round of 16.

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Yan Diomande sends it in but Cote D'Ivoire are unable to make it count as Cameroon charge on the counter with Bryan Mbuemo firing from the edge of the box, only to be denied by an incredible recovery by Odilon Kossounou

Enough time for either side to find a winner.

As Cameroon make another change with Enzo Boyomo replacing Arthur Avom.

A brilliant look at those celebrations when Cameroon quickly equalised to keep their AFCON dreams alive.

Can they find the winner?

An interesting final roll of the dice by the defending champions as the goalscorer Amad Diallo is replaced by Wilfried Zaha in the closing stages.

Of normal time at least.

But can a winner be found to secure either side a place in the round of 16 or are we going down to the wire?

He's not been on long but he's the second Cote d'Ivoire player to be booked for a foul.

Another change for Cameroon as the goalscorer - although I believe it might have been changed to an own-goal due to that unfortunate deflection by Konan - is replaced by Christian Bassogog.

Five players crowd the ball, which is positioned in a dangerous position just outside of the box.

It's Mbuemo to step up and take it. He curves it around the wall but he's unable to bend it back on target and it goes painfully wide of the target.

Cameroon's goalscorer Junior Tchamadeu goes into the referee's book.

And now it's David Pagou's turn to try and make some changes to influence this game.

Karl Etta Eyong, who scored in Cameroon's AFCON group opener comes on to replace Christian Kofane, whilst Olivier Kemen replaces Danny Namaso.

That would have been a beauty, but the Manchester United forward gets it all wrong as he plays a 1-2 from a free-kick on the edge of the box and launches an effort from distance, which goes spectacularly wide of the target.

Emerse Fae decides it's time to shake things up after 70 minutes.

Inao Oulai replaces Seko Fofana, whilst Evann Guessand replaces Vakoun Bayo.

That's twice in a number of seconds Cote D'Ivoire have attempted to threaten from a corner and seen the ball glance past the front of goal.

The defending champions go on another devastating attack but Vakoun is unable to direct his header goalwards.

We're finally getting an opportunity to catch our breaths after that enthralling start to this second half.

And just as I say that, it's Franck Kessie again, who sees his shot take a double deflection to go wide of goal.

Jean-Philippe Gbamin replaces Ibrahim Sangare in the first change of the evening.

He's been everywhere and it's extraordinary that he hasn't scored.

He leaps up at the back post to direct his header downwards, but Espassy pushes it out where it lands at Kessie's feet again, but he's all tangled up and can't manage a tap in from inches out.

The lead has only lasted three minutes and Cameroon are back in this!

Cote D'Ivoire fail to clear the ball from the box and it's Junior Tchamadeu, who'll claim it as he loops the ball over Fofana in the top corner.

It takes a devastating deflection on the way in but Cameroon aren't complaining.