Gabon inflicted a painful 1-0 defeat on Nations Cup contenders Cameroon in yet another shocker of the on-going Nations Cup tournament in Angola. Skipper Daniel Cousin capitalized on a rare but sloppy defending in the opening embers of the opening Group D encounter and guarded the lean margin with their lives. The Gabonese had threatened in the opening minute of the game, but Kameni in post for the West African giants parried an incisive cross from Nguema which was destined for the foot of Cousin. From then on the Cameroonians took over and were just a delight to watch with some fluid passing game and glimpses of individual brilliance from Emana. In one such piece of genius, Emana eased past two Gabonese players with the inside of his heel, shoved off a challenge from one of them and dispatched a bullet which brushed the fingertips of Ovono and against the goal post for a corner. The Cameroonians were no doubt in the driving seat with Alex Song dictating the pace in mid-field but against the run of play, Cousin was gifted an opening from a moment of indecision in the 17th minute and with Kameni at his mercy, the striker slotted the ball into the net for the first and only goal of the game. The goal boosted the confidence of the determined Gabonese side who sat back, defended well and used the pace of Nguema well to their advantage. Samuel Eto’o the leading scorer in the history of the Nations Cup with 16 goals was kept well in check and had to on several occasions withdraw to the midfield giving the Gabonese defence the breathing space. In the 43rd minute Eto’o dribbled two of his markers, located Emana on the right, but the final delivery was rather disappointing. From recess the Cameroonians kept the pressure on with Webo and Macoub missing great opportunities from poor headers. Geremi Njitap who appeared to have lost the speed but not the skill delivered great crosses on the right, however the final connections were always disappointing. In the 59th minute Emana benefitted from a quick thinking Eto’o whose glorious pass breached the sleeping Gabonese wall but Emana surprisingly miskicked. It was just not a day for Cameroon as Emana had is blistering strike from a great one-two with Macoub flash just wide. If it was not bad luck for the West Africans then it was Ovono who pulled some spectacular saves to keep a clean sheet for the Gabonese. In the 88th minute, Ovono parried away a goal bound free-kick from Geremi. Deep into added time, the Cameroonians would count themselves lucky when a finger-tip save from a bullet free-kick from 38 yards bounced off the goal post. It would well have been a disappointment for the Cameroonians if it had gone in, but for the Gabonese, the slim victory is a good start in a group that has Tunisia and Zambia later settling for a one-all. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana