Cameroon's chances of qualifying for the last 16 of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup were dealt a blow following a 3-1 defeat by Argentina on Thursday in their Group E match at the Estádio Kléber Andrade in Vitoria, Brazil.

The African champions led from the 10th minute when defender Francois Bere rose highest to head in a corner-kick from Nassourou Ndongo.

Argentina had to wait until after the break to draw level doing so in the 58th minute when Francisco Flores out-jumped Ricky Ngatchou to head in the equaliser with Cameroon's defence scrambling.

The South American champions took the lead five minutes later in calamitous fashion. Argentine right-back Kevin Lomonaco's through ball found Exequiel Zeballos in space on the left after Cameroon's goalkeeper Manfred Ekoi misjudged the pass. Zeballos rounded Ekoi and held off two challenges to square the ball to Juan Krilanovich who scored.

Argentina sealed the win in the 88th minute after another through ball on the left found Lautaro Cano in space to pass to Matias Godoy for an easy tap in.

Argentina top of the group with Spain on four points but the Spaniards boast a better goal difference after their 5-1 win against Tajikistan, who are third. Cameroon lies bottom of the group with no points.

Cameroon will play Spain in its final group game on November 3 at the Estadio Bezerrão in Brasilia while Argentina plays Tajikistan at the Estádio Kléber Andrade on the same day.

The African champions will need an emphatic win against Spain to have any chance of advancing from the group stage.

The top two teams of each group and the four best third-placed teams advance to the knockout stage.

Source(s): FIFA