Payet helps Euro hosts France past Cameroon

The attacking midfielder stepped up on the stroke of regulation time to curl a magnificent free-kick past Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa. 

France opened the scoring through Paris Saint-Germain’s Blaise Matuidi before Cameroon immediately drew level thanks to Porto striker Vincent Aboubakar. 

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud handed the home side the lead again just before half-time, Eric Choupo Moting equalising before Payet’s cherry on the cake. “There are things we can improve but it was our first match after a long period without competition for some players,” said France coach Didier Deschamps. 

“It’s the first game that Adil Rami and Laurent Koscielny have played together in a long time and we were up against a quality team.”

“Cameroon played in a new system with power and speed in midfield and up front,” said Deschamps, adding: “I wasn’t expecting perfection, but the spirit is there.”