As the crowd roared their team on, Ramses Lonlack scored 12 points to propel the home side into a lead, before Miesha Blackshear came off the bench to produce what turned out to be the game's decisive play.

With just a second left, she blocked Fatoumata Bagayoko’s three-point attempt to give Cameroon their second win in as many games.

The home side are hoping for their best ever finish at the continental event, with their previous best being third places at the 1983 and 1984 editions.

Mali meanwhile, winners in 2007, were consigned to a first defeat of the competition.

Two-time defending champions Angola remain the outstanding favourites however, continuing their unbeaten run against Nigeria with a 57-51 victory in Group B.

Sonia Guadalupe and Nadir Manuel combined for 29 points as Angola secured their seventh successive win over the West African opponents.

Elsewhere in Group B, Egypt clinched their second victory of the competition, edging out Guinea 81-73, although Guinea can take solace from the fact they were competing just four hours after their arrival in the Cameroon capital due to being delayed en route.

Senegal bounced back from their opening day loss to Angola with a 70-62 victory over Algeria, who crashed to a second successive defeat.

In Group A, Mozambique cruised past Uganda 73-50 while Gabon also stretched their unbeaten run by beating South Africa 71-42 to remain among the four undefeated teams in the tournament.

Action is set to continue until October 3, with the overall winners securing qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

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