Cameroon began life without Samuel Eto'o with a comfortable 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying victory in the Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday. Clinton N'Jie scored in first-half stoppage time and another France-based player, Vincent Aboubakar, added the second nine minutes from time. The Indomitable Lions always looked likely winners against the surprisingly poor Congolese Lions at a subdued Stade Mazembe in the southern mining city of Lubumbashi.
Long-time Cameroon captain, striker and talisman Eto'o, 33, retired from international football last month after bagging 56 goals in an 18-year international career. Midfielder Alex Song was also absent as he is serving a three-match ban for being red-carded during a disastrous Cameroon World Cup campaign in Brazil. They lost all three group games and an incident in which Benoit Assou-Ekotto headbutted team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo during the 4-0 defeat to Croatia brought shame to African football.