Clarence Seedorf started his reign as head coach of Cameroon with a 1-1 draw away to Comoros in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Stéphane Bahoken’s 76 minute goal cancelled out Ben Mohammed’s opener in the first quarter for the Coelecanthes who looked to have made the best possible start to the game which was Clarence Seedorf’s first in charge since taking over the Cameroon job.

The Dutchman who had alread sprang a number of surprises while naming his squad for the game pulled no punches in his starting XI as he dropped Afcon-winning goalkeeper in favour of Andre Onana while Fai Collins and Gaetan Bong were preferred as full backs over Oyongo Bitolo and Allan Nyom. Upfront, there was no Vincent Aboubakar to lead the line after the Porto forward pulled out with an injuring in training on Friday, handing a rare start for Stéphane Bahoken in attack.

Despite the start-studed Cameroon line-up, it was the home side who the game to the Lions, dominating possession and giving a tough time to the Cameroonian full backs.

The pressure did pay off on the quarter hour mark when Selemani raced past Fai Collins into the box before laying off a cut back at the edge of the box for Ben Mohammed to beat Andre Onana at his near post with a shot.

Cameroon’s inability to get a foothold on the ball was evidenced by a lack of shots on target but Choupo Moting did get a tame effort on goal just after 23 minutes before Ngadeu followed that up minutes later with a goal-bound header from Salli Edgar’s corner that was cleared off the line.

The hosts kept control of the game and took their advantage into the locker room but looked to hit Cameroon on the counter in the second half.

This however invited Cameroon onto them as the Lions pressure finally paid off with a quarter of an hour to go when Stéphane Bahoken laid off a ball to substitute Oyongo Bitolo before ghosting behind the Comoros defence for the return cross which he slotted home for the equalizer.

Ten months to the Africa Cup of Nations, Clarence Seedorf has had a taste of the task that lies ahead of him in Cameroon’s quest to defend their Afcon trophy at home.