Afrigather Cameroon level-headed broke a kind of sweat on Monday in Yaounde sooner than they might perhaps beat depleted Comoros within the final 16 round on the 2021 Africa Cup of Worldwide locations (AFCON).
The hosts struggled despite playing against a aspect with an outfield player in purpose and decreased to 10 men appropriate after seven minutes of play.
Objectives from Karl Toko Ekambi and Vincent Aboubakar gave the Indomitable Lions a 2-1 expend after Nadjim Abdou’s early red card.
But Comoros will gain applause for giving the Indomitable Lions a extensive scare, with Youssouf M’Changama scoring a fine free-kick.
Chaker Alhadhur, typically a left-abet, produced an even performance as a stand-in goalkeeper sooner than Cameroon may per chance per chance perhaps per chance progress to face The Gambia within the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Ranked 132nd globally, the debutants went into the game and not using a recognised goalkeeper after Salim Ben Boina changed into ruled out thru injury.
Also, teammates Ali Ahamada and Moyadh Ousseini examined particular for COVID-19.
They’d hoped Ahamada may per chance per chance perhaps per chance return after a unfavorable check on the morning of the game, nonetheless competition organisers, Confederation of African Football (CAF), ruled him out thanks to a few paperwork.
Facing the largest sport of their football historic past, the Coelacanthes’ hopes of inflicting a giant upset were dealt a apparently disastrous blow early.
That changed into when team captain Abdou changed into despatched off after catching Moumi Ngamaleu on the ankle alongside with his studs in a take care of that regarded clumsy in dedication to malicious.
But the functionality possibility to Ngameleu changed into there, and after a video assistant referee (VAR) evaluate, Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa despatched off Abdou.
With coach Amir Abdou out thanks to coronavirus, Comoros were already at a wide drawback with Alhadhur in purpose.
After the dismissal, expectations internal and outside the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde changed into that the Indomitable Lions would slump on and ranking a hatful.
But Cameroon may per chance per chance perhaps per chance simply no longer impose themselves within the face of a mountainous Comoran veil.
It changed into nearly 25 minutes later that Cameroon at final aged their numerical lend a hand to upright cease when Toko Ekambi fired residence the opening purpose after an unselfish ball from Aboubakar.
Aboubakar regarded to appreciate made the game catch for the hosts with 20 minutes to slump when he ran onto an even ball from midfield and placed the ball past Alhadhur.
It changed into his sixth purpose of the tournament.
Comoros received a free-kick over 35 yards out with 10 minutes to slump, and M’Changama stepped up and struck a fine ball into the prime left-hand corner.
It changed into now not more than the islanders deserved for his or her committed veil.
(NAN)
