In a slow-starting match that struggled to find its rhythm, the first shot on target proved to be a goal. Following a long through ball from Monique Ngock, Marie Ngah controlled the ball with her chest before finishing with a swivelling shot across goal with the tip of her boot, beating the Malian goalkeeper who had dived for the ball – 1–0 (14th minute).
But Mali equalised less than 10 minutes later after a poor clearance by goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, who brushed against Aïssata Traoré’s feet and knocked her over (21st minute). After eight minutes of VAR review, the referee awarded the penalty, despite a prior foul by Mali as they regained possession.
From the penalty spot, Traore slotted the ball just inside the left-hand post, despite the goalkeeper’s anticipation, to level the score at 1–1 (30').
From distance and down the centre, Ngock tried her luck, but Fatoumata Karentao produced a fine save to parry the shot, which was heading under her crossbar (45th). From a corner, it was Myriam Nyadjou’s turn to try a long-range shot which bounced off the ground but, more importantly, flew wide of the Malian goal (45’+2).
Cameroon enjoyed a strong spell before heading into the dressing room, but failed to regain the lead. Ngah went down in the box following contact with the Malian defence, but no penalty was awarded (45’+5).
Marie Ngah scores a brace
After the break, Cameroon had another chance from a very long cross by Michaela Abam, who had come on at half-time. On the left, Nina Ngueleu tried to get on the end of it by rushing towards the far post but was denied by the Malian defence, before watching Achta Toko Njoya follow up by directing her shot into the side netting (53').
Charlene Meyong then attempted a volley from a corner, but her low shot was blocked by the defence (56').
Mali appealed for a booking after a foul by Ngueleu on Orokia Sissoko, who remained on the ground for some time following a challenge in the box (61st minute). Cameroon missed a huge chance when Meyong threw herself forward to cut the ball back from a throw-in, but Ngah, found on the penalty spot, failed to hit the target with her shot (62').
Play was halted for a long time following a head-to-head collision between Collete Ndzana and Traore as they contested an aerial ball (67').
Cameroon were awarded a penalty after Fatoumata Karentao came off her line and brought down Ngah as she charged into the box unmarked at full speed (70'). The Malian goalkeeper was shown a yellow card, though it could easily have been a more severe one.
From the penalty spot, the player who had been brought down slotted the ball just inside the post to make it 2–1 (73'). Mali did not manage a single shot on target in the second half but came close to scoring from a brilliant pass by Fatoumata Niakate to Traore, who was caught off guard and got tangled up in the box (85').
The match ended badly for Ngah, who had to be carried off on a stretcher (90th).
Mali kept their hopes alive right to the very end, thinking they had equalised in the 97th minute from a cross by Kadidiatou Diabate to Fatoumata Diarra – both of whom had come on as substitutes in the second half – but Diarra misjudged the angle of her shot (90+7).
With this 2–1 victory, Cameroon – who had been eliminated by Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying play-offs before being reinstated following the expansion of the tournament to 16 nations – are now second in Group D, just behind Ghana, who beat Cape Verde 2–0. Mali, meanwhile, are third and must therefore win by at least one goal against Cape Verde – who had beaten them in the Africa Cup of Nations play-offs (1–0, 2–4) – in their next match to stand any chance of reaching the quarter-finals. The Indomitable Lionesses will therefore take on Ghana in what promises to be the Group D showdown.