The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon drew first blood against Nigeria as they edged the Super Eagles 1-0 in the first match of their double-header friendly at the Stadion Wiener Neustadt in the Austrian capital on Friday evening.

Fulham’s Andre Anguissa scored the only goal in the 37th minute, pouncing on a poor clearance from William Troost-Ekong to fire beyond Maduka Okoye.

The win was Cameroon’s first against Nigeria in four matches and a first loss for Gernot Rohr’s side in six games.

Nigeria last lost a match in October 2020, falling by the odd goal to reigning African champions Algeria in an international friendly also in Austria.

With many regulars not available, Rohr had said newly-invited and fringe players would be given the chance to stake a claim for a regular shirt but the Franco-German would have learnt very little after starting with his strongest possible team.

A largely even first half produced little in the way of chances until Anguissa’s goal which came moments after Moses Simon had forced a smart save from the Cameroon goalkeeper.

Nigeria dominated proceedings after the break with Troost-Ekong and Oghenekaro Etebo testing the goalkeeper from range. Simon should have equalised with Nigeria’s best chance in the 57th-minute but the Nantes man fired over from point-blank range.

Rohr threw on Ahmed Musa for the ineffectual Paul Onuachu and Terem Moffi came on for his debut in place of Kelechi Iheanacho in the 66th-minute but still Nigeria struggled to find a breakthrough.

Anayo Iwuala came on for his third cap, Peter Olayinka earned his second and 21-year-old Abraham Marcus came on for his first with three minutes left on the clock but the scoreline remained the same as Cameroon held on to win.

Both sides clash again on Tuesday also at the Stadion Wiener Neustadt.