After emerging as the hero for Cameroon in a 1-1 draw vs. Mali on Tuesday, scoring his first-ever international goal in his team's Africa Cup of Nations Group D opener, New York Red Bulls left back Ambroise Oyongo was limited to a total of 61 minutes on Saturday in another 1-1 tie vs. Guinea in the Equatorial Guinea capital of Malabo.
Oyongo made a second consecutive start at right back for the Indomitable Lions, who took an early lead on a spectacular "olimpico" goal directly off a Benjamin Moukandjo corner kick that surprised Guinea's goalkeeper at the near post in the 13th minute.
But Guinea weren't backing down in front of the 2014 World Cup participants and the game turned into an entertaining back-and-forth affair.
Unfortunately for Oyongo that meant a mainly stay-at-home approach in the 4-4-2 employed by Cameroon's German coach Volker Finke.
But numbers behind the ball meant little for Cameroon on the Guinea equalizer in the 42nd minute which came off the foot of captain Ibrahima Traore, who fired a left-footed blast between four flat-footed Cameroonian defenders, including Oyongo.
Also forcing the Red Bulls man to stay pinned back was the play of Guinea's left winger Seydouba Soumah. Although Oyongo did well to challenge Soumah on a 33rd-minute header in the box, preventing a clear look at goal, he struggled in one-on-one defending in the open field. Soumah easily beat him in the 50th minute and again eight minutes later. In between those plays, Oyongo did venture up the field once and sent a dangerous, low cross that finished in the hands of Guinea's 'keeper.
Just moments later Finke replaced Oyongo in the 61st minute with 20-year-old Jermoe Guihoata, a taller and more physical player who features at center back for French club Valenciennes despite lining up at right back for Cameroon.
Oyongo and Cameroon close out Group D play on January 28 against their toughest opponent yet in the Ivory Coast. With all four matches in Group D finishing 1-1 thus far, qualification to the second round is still up for grabs.
