Defending kings Egypt tame Cameroon Lions

Defending champions Egypt got off to a superb start at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Tuesday with a convincing 4-2 victory over Cameroon here.This Group C encounter pitched two countries who between them have won the Africa Cup of Nations nine times and in the end Egypt triumphed despite missing several key stars. The Egyptians went ahead as early in the 14th minute via a penalty scored by Hosni Abd Rabou and increased their advantage two minutes later through Mohamed Zidan, who would further wreck havoc in first-half stoppage time with a left-footed cracker from outside the box for Egypt's third goal. Cameroon pulled a goal back six minutes into the second half when Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o nodded home off a right cross by Geremi Njitap before Abd Rabou hit a fourth goal for Egypt with an 81st minute belter. Eto'o gave the scoreline some respectability in the dying moments of the game when he netted from the penalty spot after an Egyptian defender was penalised for an infringement inside the box.