ACTUALITE |
12.10.2009
2010 World Cup : Lions: 90 Minutes from South Africa
Godlove BAINKONG
Their 3-0 victory over the Hawks of Togo Saturday consolidated their first spot in group A.
Cameroon’s national football team, the Indomitable Lions, are 90 minutes away from taking part in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The team picked a spectacular home win over their peers from Togo on Saturday October 10, 2009. The match was a last but one day of play in the last round qualifiers.
Playing in front of over 38,000 boisterous spectators, the Lions proved that they are indeed a football powerhouse in the continent. From the first blast of the referee’s whistle, Captain Samuel Eto’o and team mates took control of the match and each touch of the ball attracted thunderous applause from the expectant supporters. But their efforts met with stiff resistance from a Togolese side which appeared poised to repeat their feat of March 28, 2009 when they beat the Lions 1-0 in Accra on day one of the qualifiers.
It was in the 32nd minute that Cameroon got a curtain raiser through Geremi Njitap after a nerve-breaking penalty kick. The goal seemed to have motivated the boys who multiplied onslaughts upfront. But the first half score remained 1-0 for the Lions. Upon resumption for the second segment, the Indomitable Lions took full control of the game, forcing the Togolese goalkeeper, to once again visit his net twice after Jean II Makoun and Achille Emana netted the second and third goals respectively. They would have increased tally had Rigobert Song not missed a golden opportunity at the tail end of the game.
The team’s output in the Saturday’s game showed a marked improvement from their previous games, forcing many who had earlier written them off, following their mediocre performances in their first two outings, to rethink. With 10 points, the Lions are dictating the pace in group A, a point ahead of Gabon that also picked a vital 3-1 home victory over Morocco in one of the group games. The last day of play, billed for November 14, 2009 will therefore be determinant for both Cameroon and Gabon. Interestingly, both sides will play out of their strongholds. While Cameroon will be negotiating a sixth participation in the World Cup against Morocco in Rabat, Gabon will be struggling to outsmart Togo in Lome to hope for their first participation in the World football fiesta.
The two matches promise a lot of spectacle given that Togo would want to, at least, secure a place for the African Nations Cup in Angola while Morocco would be seeking their first victory in the last round qualifier and probably pray for the defeat of Togo to be present in Angola. As a build up to the game, the Lions will take on Angola on Wednesday October 14 in the José Arcanjo stadium in Portugal in an international friendly.
|
|
Hits: 1 | Source:cameroon-tribune.cm | |
|
|
|
|
| |