ACTUALITE |
22.12.2003
Olympic Lions Beat Malian Eagles
Olympic Lions Beat Malian Eagles
Yesterday’s 2-0 victory places Cameroon in a comfortable position in Group B of the 2004 Olympic Games qualifiers.
The newly refurbished Yaounde Omnisport stadium yesterday opened it’s gates to host one of the most hotly contested matches of the second playing day of the African qualifiers for the 2004 Olympic Games. The Goup B match, presided at by Cameroon’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Bidoung Mpkatt, pitted Cameroon against Mali. The defending champions proved their supremacy as they outplayed the visiting side 2 — 0. Cameroon’s two goals were scored by Wansi Daniel Jules Oscar, alias Marimar and Webo Kouam Achille at the 44th and 56th minutes respectively.
The Olympic Lions however got into the game very slowly. There was a lack of synchronization in the excellent individual play styles and several untargeted passes. Understandably, most of the players were meeting each other for the first time on the pitch. But for the goalkeeper Tignyem Amour Patrick of TKC and Ndzana Kana of Mount Cameroon, the rest of yesterday’s squad that defended the national colours are professionals abroad who arrived in Cameroon less than 24 hours prior to the match. Captain Patrick Djemba Djemba and his mates therefore had a difficult time getting use to each other. The Malian side, on the other hand, was made of mostly local players, most of them from Djoliba Bamako football club. Captain Traoré and his mates put up a strong defence to counter Cameroon’s fierce attack until the 44th minute when a header from Wansi Daniel Jules hit goalkeeper Bathily Cheick’s net for Cameroon 1, Mali 0.
The Cameroonian team entered the second half with much force. The pressure paid off as in the 56th minute, another header by Webo Kouam Achille, increase the goal tally. At the 62nd and 72nd minute Cameroon’s Coach, Jean Paul Akono, brought in Abada Narcisse, Ngal Serge and Mbamba Emile to replace Ngon A Mamoun, Essola Tchamba and Wansi Daniel. They brought in a new lease of life as Cameroon completely dominated the Malians during the last quarter of the match.
Yesterday’s victory places Cameroon in a comfortable position (first) in Group B. In their first outing on October 26, 2003 in Brazzaville, Cameroon beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 4 — 1. Mali also beat Côte d’Ivoire 3 — 0 on the first playing day. The Under 23 Lions, which have four more matches to play, however need to win their next match against Côte d’Ivoire in a forth night to get out of the danger zone as Côte D’Ivoire yesterday thrashed the Democratic Republic of Congo 4 —1. Four teams will represent Africa at the Olympic Games; one from each group.
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Hits: 1 | Source:cameroon-tribune.cm | |
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