ACTUALITE |
24.10.2004
U-20 Indomitable Lions fail to reach Benin 2005
Martin Etonge
Cameroon’s U-20 football team will not play the finals of next years African Cup of Nations in Benin.
Though they defeated Mali 2-1 in Yaounde on Sunday 24 October in the last qualifier, the Malians went through thanks to the away goal rule. Mali had taken the away leg game 1-0 in Bamako.
And they moved to obtain the curtain raiser in Yaounde a forth night later through Kalifa Dembele in the 74th minute, in spite of a complete domination from the Indomitable Lions.
To, however, not look foolish in their very backyard, skipper Frank Ongfiang, who was in superb form, galvanised his side to score two goals.
He crossed perfectly from the right corner for Serges Ngal from Impea Turku in Finland to finish with a header, for the equaliser three minutes after Kalifa’s curtain raiser.
In stoppage time, substitute Joel Nguemo fired in a free kick from about 35 metres and Cameroon could carry the day, though not enough to put smiles on the faces of the fans and players.
The game was completely under Cameroon’s control, but the finish was lacking.
As midfielder, Eyong Tarkang put it at the end: “it could be a game of 5-1 for Cameroon”.
The misses were enormous right from start. Twice skipper Ongfiang from Seranca Italy failed to score in the first half. Then at least ten headers and shots narrowly missed target.
Head coach Souleymanou Aboubakar could only regret that his boys could not score. “Even in Mali (in the away leg) we lost too many goals”, he said. Before concluding that the failure falls in line with the laws of football – you can play well, but not win.
Of course Mali’s coach was very elated. Fagnery Diarra declared that it was not an easy game and they had well prepared to spoil all the chances of Cameroon.
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