Cameroon went ahead after just five minutes as a static England defence watched a ball come back off the post to Samuel Eto who volleyed past Nigel Martyn from 8 yards.
The lead lasted just over 5 minutes, Darius Vassell scoring his third goal in an England shirt after a through ball from Paul Scholes. It remained level until half time.
Sven Goran Eriksson made half a dozen changes in the interval, one being the introduction of Boro's Gareth Southgate, who also took the captain's armband from Michael Owen.
Southgate was involved in Cameroon's second goal 10 minutes into the second half, the ball struck his arm as he challenged Sunderland's Patrick Mboma and the referee awarded a free-kick 25 yards out.
Geremi curled a superb free-kick in off David James' left hand post to put Cameroon back in front.
England were disappointing and struggled to cope with the heat and humidity but they managed to grab a draw deep into injury time. A deep free-kick was headed across the goal by Teddy Sheringham to Robbie Fowler who cooly returned a header over the Cameroon keeper into the top corner.
Boro's Joseph-Desire Job was an unused substitute for the Africans.