The game started evenly as both sides enjoyed spells of possession, but Kovac's side took the lead in the 11th minute when Cameroon failed to clear their lines from a cross and Ivan Perisic found Olic at the back post with a low cross to fire home.
Croatia could have doubled their lead minutes later when Volker Finke's side struggled again to clear the ball inside their own box and the ball fell to Perisic, but he could only fire over from close range.
Cameroon started to come back into the game later in the half but were unable to carve out many clear-cut opportunities as Stephane Mbia wasted an opening as he blasted over from a tight angle, with better options available in the box.
However, this brief bit of optimism was short-lived for Finke's side as just before the break they were reduced to 10 men when Alex Song was given a straight red card for an elbow on Mandzukic as he attempted to raid upfield.
Mandukic had the chance to put his side out of his sight when he latched onto a through ball from Ivan Rakitic, but as he tried to lob Itanje he put his effort just wide of the post.
However, the Bayern Munich striker was not to be denied as he headed Kovac's side three goals ahead when he rose highest in the area to power an effort into the top corner from Luka Modric's cross from the left.
Mandzukic doubled his tally for the game when he turned the ball in on the rebound from close range after Mateo Kovacic's effort was well saved by Itandje. Rakitic could have added a fifth late on, but he somehow missed the target after being put through by Ante Rebic.
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