Holland made his mark early in the game when he clattered former West Ham midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe, which brought complaints from Arsenal’s Lauren but no whistle from Japanese referee Toru Kamikawa.

Kalla and Bill Tchato were then involved in a sickening clash of heads in the 32nd minute, with the Montpellier defender coming off worse as he required treatment on the sidelines after being stretchered off.

He eventually returned three minutes later, with Foe having drilled a 25-yard drive over the bar in the meantime.

Staunton needed to be at his best nine minutes from the break when Geremi curled in an incisive cross from the right, with Cameroon captain Rigobert Song just beaten to the header as the goal loomed for the former Liverpool and West Ham player.

Cameroon were beginning to build up a head of steam and they grabbed the lead in the 40th minute courtesy of the irrepressible Mboma.

It was Eto’o who produced all the hard work after receiving a ball down the left from Geremi as he beat Staunton on the byline before laying it off for Mboma.

The 31-year-old then slid the ball home from six yards, despite Kelly’s attempt to clear off the line, crowning his 50th cap with the 28th goal of his international career.

Ireland almost equalised on the stroke of half-time as Song inadvertently steered a Harte free-kick from the right towards goal, but Alioum showed great reactions to pounce on the ball on the line.

McCarthy made one change at the break, with Finnan replacing McAteer and taking over at right-back as Kelly pushed forward into the slot vacated by the Sunderland winger.

Ireland certainly started the second half with a purpose and came close to a 48th-minute equaliser as Kevin Kilbane glanced a Harte left-wing cross across the face of Alioum’s goal.

Finnan made an instant impact on the game, albeit of the wrong sort as he became the second Ireland player to be booked following a late challenge on Mboma.

It mattered little for within minutes Ireland were back in the game as Kalla could only steer a Kilbane cross into the path of Holland, allowing the 28-year-old to fire in a perfect low, right-foot drive beyond Alioum into the bottom right corner.

After Given had received treatment for an injury seemingly received when he went up for a Pierre Wome corner, Alioum then made a meal of a Harte corner and was fortunate to be helped out by Tchato.

Alioum redeemed himself in the 64th minute as Song came close to beating his own keeper again after Breen had nodded down a Kilbane cross into the danger area.

Kalla and Song both attempted to clear, only for the ball to be flicked goalwards where Alioum brought it right down on the goal-line, despite the protests of the on-hand Keane claiming it had crossed.

Ireland were in the ascendancy, but they were in danger of being caught, and that was nearly the case three minutes later when Foe nodded on a long goal-kick to Eto’o, who dragged his 15-yard shot wide when well placed.

Sheffield United’s Patrick Suffo, on for Mboma in the 68th minute, then showed fine skill in the Ireland half to elude two markers before striding on and unleashing a 25-yard drive just wide.

McCarthy made a further change in the 78th minute, with Steven Reid replacing Harte and slotting in at right wing, with Kelly playing in his third different position of the game as he then moved across to left back.

Reid, like Finnan, also picked up an almost instant caution, but that too nearly paled into insignificance as Keane was a whisker away from giving Ireland a famous victory, only to see his 20-yard curler beat Alioum and rebound off the left-hand post.

Kalla was the last to be booked in the 89th minute as Cameroon eventually survived a fierce Irish push for the winner, with Reid powering in a thunderous drive which Alioum just tipped over the crossbar.