Guinea needed a Francois Kamano penalty to rescue a 2-2 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B opener against Madagascar.
Kamano struck from the spot after Anicet Andrianantenaina and Carolus Andriamatsinoro goals early in the second half had put the debutants ahead.
Sory Kaba had opened the scoring for Guinea, who saw Liverpool midfielder Neby Keita come off the bench following the injury which kept him out of the Champions League final earlier this month.
A routine win for Guinea looked on the cards when Kaba produced a cool finish just after the half-hour mark.
But Madagascar, playing at this stage for the first time, stunned them with two goal in six minutes after the break.
Andrianantenaina flicked home from a corner and then Andriamatsinoro produced a composed finish.
Guinea claimed a point, though, when Ibrahima Traore was fouled and Kamano converted from 12 yards in the 66th minute.
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