SOUSSE, Tunisia, Jan 25 - African Nations Cup holders Cameroon were held 1-1 by outsiders Algeria on Sunday while bad defending cost Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe dearly as both led before losing 2-1 to Guinea and Egypt respectively.

Cameroon, winners of the last two tournaments, conceeded their first Nations Cup goal since the 2000 final against Nigeria as they were held 1-1 by their North African opponents in group C in Sousse.

Egypt went top of the group as Tamer Abdelhamid and substitute Mohamed Barakat scored twice in five minutes to wipe out Peter Ndlovu's opener for Zimbabwe in Sfax.

Midfielder Pascal Feindouno bundled home a late winner for Guinea as they came from behind to beat Congo after the Simbas had taken the lead and dominated the first half of their group A tie in Tunis.

Guinea joined hosts Tunisia, 2-1 winners over Rwanda in Saturday's opening match, at the top of the group.

Cameroon, who went through the 2002 tournament in Mali without conceeding a goal, played some excellent football in the first half with Real Mallorca's Samuel Eto'o pulling the Algerian defence apart with his trickery.

They were rewarded when stalwart Patrick Mboma, originally left out of the 22-man squad, headed home Geremi Fotso Njitap's perfectly flighted cross in the 43rd minute.

But the Indomitable Lions were stunned when substitute Brahim Zafour, unmarked at a corner, drilled home Algeria's equaliser early in the second half to take advantage of one of his team's only real chances.

The goal prompted wild celebrations among the large contingent of Algerians who had poured across the border and who drove out of the town hooting their car horns incessantly.

Although Cameroon dominated the rest of the match, they were let down by poor finishing, with Eto'o one of the main culprits.

"I was satisfied with the way we played, we created lots of chances," said Mboma.

GOALMOUTH MELEE

Captain Lomana LuaLua accepted the blame for Congo's capitulation after squandering a string of first-half chances.

"I should have scored a hat-trick or four goals in the first half and I didn't take my chances," the Newcastle United striker said.

Alain Masudi put Congo ahead after 35 minutes but their tiring defence was cruelly exposed after halftime as Aboubacar Titi Camara equalised with a first-time shot into the corner in the 68th minute and Feindouno scored in a goalmouth melee with nine minutes left.

Asked to explain the defeat, Congo's English coach Mick Wadsworth said: "I can't, really. Up to one hour we controlled the game but only scored one goal. They controlled the game for 30 minutes and scored two."

Egypt, playing a record 70th match at the Nations Cup finals, surprisingly fell behind when Ndlovu powered home a header from Charles Yohane's cross 50 seconds into the second half.

But Zimbabwe, who had put up a strong rearguard action, gifted their opponents the equaliser when defender Kaitano Tembo kicked the ball into the shins of Abdelhamid as he tried to clear in front of his own goal in the 58th minute.

Five minutes later Barakat, who had come on seconds earlier, stole in at the back post to seal the win, although the referee needed confirmation from the linesman before awarding the goal.