Cairo, Egypt (PANA) - Samuel Eto'o's hat-trick for the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon sent World Cup-bound Angola back to the drawing board in their first match at the 25th African Cup of Nations tourney (CAN) here Saturday.

The Barcelona striker opened the scoring with a superbly taken 25-metre free-kick that gave the Angolan goalie no chance in the 20th minute.

Angola's Flavio Amado equalised in the 30th minute with a penalty kick after captain Fabrice "Akwa" Maieco was felled in the Cameroonian area, putting the Palancas Negras (Black Antelopes) level.

But Eto'o got his second goal through a 39th minute superb header from a Rudolphe Doaula cross to end the first-half 2-1 for Cameroon.

The 24-year-old marksman consolidated the Lions' lead in the 77th minute with a powerful shot from just outside the box.

If failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup was any inspiration for the four-time African champions, the Lions' domination and standard of play could not be faulted throughout the Saturday match.

The Angolans have to up the ante if they want to advance further in the continental tournament or impress at their first World Cup appearance in Germany 2006 kicking off in June.

The third and last match Saturday is between Togo and RD Congo.

Cameroon meets Togo Wednesday, while Angola will take on DR Congo in the second Group B matches on the same day.