Defending champions Egypt got off to a superb start at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Tuesday with a convincing 4-2 victory over Cameroon.

This Group C encounter pitched two countries who between them have won the Africa Cup of Nations nine times and in the end Egypt triumphed despite missing several key stars.

Egypt went ahead as early in the 14th minute via a penalty scored by Hosni Abd Rabou and increased their advantage two minutes later through Mohamed Zidan, who would further wreck havoc in first-half stoppage time with a left-footed cracker from outside the box for Egypt's third goal.

Cameroon pulled a goal back six minutes into the second half when Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o nodded home off a right cross by Geremi Njitap before Abd Rabou hit a fourth goal for Egypt with an 81st minute belter.

Eto'o gave the scoreline some respectability in the dying moments of the game when he netted from the penalty spot after an Egyptian defender was penalised for an infringement inside the box.

That took the Barcelona star's goal tally in the competition to 13, one short of the record set by the Ivory Coast's Laurent Pokou,

In the other Group C match, Zambia beat Sudan 3-0 at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi to go top of the standings.

Zambia profited from an early goal as James Chamanga, drafted into the starting line-up in place of suspended captain Chris Katongo, took just one minute and 45 seconds to fire Zambia ahead.

Jacob Mulenga climbed above the Sudan defence to add a second six minutes into the second half and Felix Katongo was quickest to a parried save to add a third just before the hour.

Zambia join Egypt at the top of the group standings after the defending champions' 4-2 win over Cameroon earlier on Tuesday at Kumasi's Baba Yara stadium.