The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon revived their hopes of qualifying to the next round of the competition, when they spanked the Chipolopolo of Zambia 5-1 in an exciting second round Group C match played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi Saturday.

The score-line belied the competitiveness of the contest, because the Zambians offered a stiff challenge but faltered miserably on four occasions to gift the Cameroonians goals.

When everybody thought the odds were in favour of Zambia as they controlled the game and punched holes in the Cameroonian midfield, their defenders made a horrendous mistake with a rough tackle on top of the box on 26 minutes.

Geremi Ngitap stepped forward and curled a shot which hit the back of the net and uplifted the confidence of the Lions.

There was another horrific defensive error as two defenders missed an easy aerial ball, thus allowing a lurking Joseph Deserie Job to stroll in with the second goal on 31 minutes.

Just before half time, the Zambian defence crumbled once again without pressure and Emmana picked the ball behind them, rounded up the goalkeeper before slamming a casual shot into the net to put Cameroon three up into the break.

The Zambians came fighting in the second half and their style and mobility promised a great revival but on 62 minutes, Samuel Eto had the opportunity to shoot in a free ball from the penalty spot, after a defender had halted his free free-kick with his hand in the box.

Job completed his job on 83 minutes with his second, another gift of a goal, as a defender headed the ball to him and left him unmarked to finish it off.

And when all hopes seemed lost for the Zambians to get at least a consolation goal, skipper Chris Katonga dashed from midfield to stab in a decent cross from the left, leaving Keeper Idriss Carlos Kameni sprawling helplessly in despair.

It was a 90th goal that the Zambians will savour despite their massive loss to the Cameroonians.

One significant aspect of the match was that Eto scored his 14th goal of the African championship to equal the feat achieved by Laurent Pokou of Cote d'Ivoire decades ago.