Category: Sports

By Biwah Bryan

Cameroonian defender Fai Collins contributed significantly to Radnicki Nis’ 3-2 victory on his debut with the club against Uzbekistan side Olympic FC on Saturday.

The match which was an international friendly played in Turkey, started with Olympic taking an early lead through Jalolidinov in the seventh minute before Radnicki Nis quickly responded with a goal from David Petrovic, following a well-executed free-kick by Andrija Lukovic, to level the score.

Olympic regained the lead through Odilov, but Radnicki Nis made a comeback, with Andreja Stojanovic scoring an equalizer in the 63rd minute.

The Serbian club’s determination paid off when newcomer Semir Smajlagic secured the winning goal in the 80th minute, following a corner taken by Nemanja Belakovic.

The match marked a promising start for Fai with his new club after having been without a club for several months before securing a move to Radnicki Nis in December.

Fai Collins was recently named in Cameroon’s AFCON 2023 squad, but was lef
t out of the final list.

Radnicki Nis’ next game is set to take place on January 24 against the Czech Republic’s Karvina team. The Serbian Super League side is focused on improving its performance. The club has suffered three defeats, one draw, and a win in its last five games.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

After a disappointing 3-1 loss to holders, Senegal which out Cameroon’s hope at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hanging, the team returned to training on Saturday to prepare for their decisive match against Gambia.

The session lasted for 60 minutes with two sets of players; the starting team and the reserves.

Assistant coach, Sebastien Migne worked with the reserves at the INPHB.

Coach Rigobert Song alongside the team Physiotherapist, Patrick Noubissi handled the starters.

The training took place under the watch of Federation of Cameroon Football (FECAFOOT) President, Samuel Eto’o.

He was there to inspire the players ahead of the decisive last group game against Gambia on January 23.

The game will be the first that the Indomitable Lions will play outside Yamussoukro in Cote D’Ivoire as they will face their next opponent in Bouake.

There will be a closed-door training session at 5 pm in Yamussoukro on Sunday.

On Monday the team will travel to Bouake where they will play Gambia.

The game is a m
ust-win match for the five-time African champions after amassing just a point from two group games.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The head coach of Cameroon’s senior men’s national team, Rigobert Song minced no words while accepting the fact that the holders, Senegal were better than his team.

The Indomitable Lions suffered their first defeat at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after a 3-1 loss to the Teranga Lions.

Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diallo, and Sadio Mane scored for the defending champions while Jean-Charles Castelleto reduced the deficit for the Central African side.

After the match, Song during his post-match reactions accepted that Senegal was better than his team.

‘When there is a defeat, we must bear responsibility, and therefore we must admit that Senegal was better than us in the match,’ Song said.

‘Senegal was stronger than us. Their players were in their places on the field. They deserved their victory. For our part, we have young players in the national team, and they are at the beginning of their experience.’

In a game where Cameroon had a slight advantage in possession with 53% against Senegal’s 47%, Song highlighted
what went wrong with his team.

‘What did not go well? I think the players did everything they could during the match, and small details made the difference in the match. We admit that the competitors were better than us.’

Song is therefore optimistic about their last game against Gambia as a final for the team.

‘I am optimistic. As long as there is a final match, there are no calculations to make. The next match will be a final for us, and I know that we will qualify for the second round.’ He concluded.

Depending on the result of the match between Senegal and Guinea, a win for Cameron will put the team in second or third position in Group C.

A third position will mean the five-time champions will have to qualify through the route of best third-placed teams.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Biwah Bryan

Cameroon’s U20 lionesses have secured their first-ever qualification for the World Cup with a 5-1 aggregate win over The Cleopatras of Egypt.

After Cameroon’s 4-2 victory in Alexandria, the lionesses returned home to face Egypt in the second leg of the world cup qualifiers at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde

Both teams started sluggishly, with Cameroon squandering several goal-scoring opportunities,

Egypt who needed a win by a three-goal margin, opened scores in the 40th minute through Habiba Esam to make it 3-4 on aggregate.

Despite numerous failed attempts from Cameroon, Lamine Mana finally equalized with a header after receiving a lofted pass from Bernadette Ngaseh, crushing Egypt’s hopes.

The game eventually ended 1-1, resulting in a 5-3 victory for Cameroon on aggregate and a qualification ticket for the U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Stephen TADAHA

In two matches at the Men’s Handball Africa Cup of Nations currently taking place in Egypt, Cameroon’s National team has won one against Congo 25-21 and lost the other to Guinea 19-23.

With these contrasting results, the Handball Lions’ destiny is partially in their hands given that they are still second in group B of the competition and only the first two qualify per group to the knockout stage.

Ahead of their umpteenth clash with the continent’s giants and host Egypt on Sunday, January 21, the Lions, with a possible defeat should be obliged to limit the damages and hope Guinea does not win Congo if they dream of qualifying to the next round.

Limiting the damages against Egypt means the boys of Tagne Placide should avoid defeat by a large margin ( for example 10 goals difference), because others were largely beaten by the title holders.

Egypt 33-15 Guinea (+18)

Egypt 34-19 Congo (+15)

If this possibility holds, the Lions’ chances will now depend on the Guinea vs Congo encounter.

Gu
inea is third with 2 points and a goal difference of – 14 while Congo tails the group with zero points and a goal difference of – 19. A win or a draw for Guinea will shatter Cameroon’s hopes while the hopes will remain intact if Congo were to beat Guinea.

Cameroon’s national team has never won the tournament in 17 previous participations. The team’s best result was the second spot obtained at their first participation in 1974 in Tunisia. Since the 5th place obtained in 2016, Cameroon has been dangling between the 9th and 15th places.

Will the team succeed in grabbing a quarter-final spot in 8 years?

Our fingers are crossed!

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Biwah Bryan

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse was reportedly rushed to a hospital in Yamoussoukro for an infectious pathology a few hours after his team’s 3-1 victory against Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations.

According to a release from the Sénégal football fédération, Aliou Cissé has been treated and is currently back in camp with Teranga lions of Sénégal.

Aliou Cissé has been at the helm of Senegal’s football team since 2015 and led them to victory in the previous African Nations Cup edition in Cameroon

This is the second time that the 47-year-old has fallen ill at a major tournament, after being hospitalized at the 2022 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Senegal have been outstanding in the current AFCON in Ivory Coast, winning their first two games and securing a spot in the next round.

The Teranga Lions of Sénégal will face Guinea in their final group game, where a draw will suffice for them to finish top of Group C.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Stephen TADAHA

In two matches at the Men’s Handball Africa Cup of Nations currently taking place in Egypt, Cameroon’s National team has won one against Congo 25-21 and lost the other to Guinea 19-23.

With these contrasting results, the Handball Lions’ destiny is partially in their hands given that they are still second in group B of the competition and only the first two qualify per group to the knockout stage.

Ahead of their umpteenth clash with the continent’s giants and hosts Egypt on Sunday January 21, a win by the lions and a victory by Congo over Guinea, can secure qualification to the next round.

Limiting the damages against Egypt means the boys of Tagne Placide should avoid defeat by a large margin ( for example 10 goals difference), because others were largely beaten by the title holders.

Egypt 33-15 Guinea (+18)

Egypt 34-19 Congo (+15)

If this possibility holds, the Lions’ chances will now depend on the Guinea vs Congo encounter.

Guinea are third with 2 points and a goal difference of –
14 while Congo tail the group with zero point and a goal difference of – 19. A win or a draw for Guinea will shatter Cameroon’s hopes while the hopes will remain intact if Congo beat Guinea.

Worth noting is the fact that Cameroon’s National team has never won the tournament in 17 previous participations. The team’s best result was the second spot obtained at their first participation in 1974 in Tunisia. Since the 5th place obtained in 2016, Cameroon has been dangling between the 9th and 15th places.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Biwah Bryan

The Indomitable Lions’ hopes of reaching the next round of the 2023 African Nations Cup are now uncertain after Guinea’s victory over Gambia in their second AFCON match.

The lions failed to win any of their 2 group matches, holding only one point in their 2 outings, while Guinea now holds 4 points in 2 outings following their narrow 1-0 win over Gambia.

At the moment, Senegal lead Group C with six points, Guinea follow with 4 points, Cameroon with one point and Gambia is yet to have a point.

If Guinea manages to beat Senegal in their final match, they will finish at the top of Group C with seven points, and Cameroon’s fate will depend on them being one of the top four third-placed teams.

However, if Senegal beats Guinea, Cameroon must win their game against Gambia by a wide margin in order to secure second place in the group with goal difference.

If Senegal and Guinea draw their final match, Cameroon’s fate will still hang on being among the top four third-placed teams, but If Cameroon i
s beaten by Gambia then it is over

It is important to note that eight teams will be eliminated after the first round, while the top two teams from each group will be joined by the best four third-placed teams to the knockout stage.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

CNA correspodent in Abidjan

Cameroon’s senior men’s national team is in a tight corner in their bid to qualify for the Round of 16 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D’Ivoire.

A 3-1 loss to defending champions, Senegal in their second Group C encounter signified a dicey campaign for the Indomitable Lions.

Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diallo, and Sadio Mane ensured that Jean-Charles Castelleto’s header for the Central African side was a mere consolation.

Rigobert Song’s side has a huge task ahead of their final group match against already-eliminated Gambia.

They need an outright win to get a top-three finish in Group C and Guinea’s 1-0 win over Gambia put them in a dicey situation.

Since 1990, Cameroon has failed to make it out of the group stage on three occasions apart from 2012 and 2013 when the team didn’t qualify for the tournament.

In 1990 as defending champions, Cameroon crashed out from the group stage behind Zambia and Senegal.

Six years later, the team also crashed out from
the group that has South Africa and Egypt.

A similar occurrence took place in 2015 when the team finished bottom of the group that has Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Mali.

Apart from 1990, every time Cameroon bowed out at the group stage, one of the teams from their group did go on to win the title.

South Africa (1996) and Cote D’Ivoire (2015) won the title the last two times the Indomitable Lions failed to make it from their group.

Cameroon has the pedigree to qualify but the team’s destiny is not in their hands depending on the result of the game between Senegal and Guinea as well as other teams in the best third-place category.

Source: Cameroon News Agency