The Cameroon national football team leaves Morocco shoulders high after leaving an impression that they are still a force to reckon with in African football.
The Indomitable Lions bowed to the Atlas Lions of Morocco by 2 – 0 in a quarter final match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat, capital of the host Nation.
The 68 thousand seats capacity football arena was full of Moroccan fans whose cheers, applause and shouts were so overwhelming that it almost submerged the drums and calls from Cameroonian supporters.
The match that was full of physical impacts, swift passes and pressure on the Cameroonian defense which demonstrated a Moroccan side that had studied and mastered the Cameroon play style. The Atlas Lions open score in the first half from a corner kick. The Indomitable Lions struggled to respond swiftly as they had done in previous games but the Moroccan defense wall was impenetrable.
Words of Motivation from Coach David Pagou during the halftime break as well as substitutions in the course of the game were not enough to repair the damage.
The Indomitable Lions came back determined to level score in the second half and created some chances but another goal conceded through another corner kick sealed their fate.
Exhausted from the overwhelming Moroccan pressure, team Cameroon prevented further damage and tried long balls from the wings but the Moroccan defense anticipated on the move. At the close of the game, it was Cameroon 0-2 Morocco.
During the post match press conference, Coach David Pagou received a standing ovation from media professionals who had crowded the Press Conference hall to get his impression on the game and the Cameroon’s participation.
The coach on his part congratulated his team, saying that in less than a month of working together, they have left a positive impression. Reaching the quarter final is an exploit that wasn’t expected of them especially as most of the players are young and were playing this level of competition for the first time, David Pagou added. He said they have learned from the Moroccan expedition and would improve in future. That the team has made Cameroonians to dream and can once again be proud of their squad.
He also saluted the Moroccan fans for cheering their players till the end and wished the best for Morocco that has crossed the quarter final of the AFCON for the first time in over two decades.
Coach Walid Regragui of Morocco on his part congratulated his team for applying to the letter what they practiced during training and for obtaining the victory at the end.
He said his team was currently among the best in scoring from spot kicks. He added that they studied the Cameroonian play style, its weak spots and came out with a counter strategy involving swiftly passes, rapid shift of position of players on the pitch to create spaces and spot kicks.
So far, the Moroccan national team prides itself to have won or played draws without any defeat in their last 37 home games in Official Competition having a total of 32 wins, 5 draws.
Team Cameroon is leaving the competition with some achievements including;
– three man of the match awards to Christian Kofane, Bryan Mbeumo and Carlos Baleba in five matches played,
– six goals scored, five goals scored,
– three victories, one draw and one defeat
– Reactions the quarter final, a stage better than the previous AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire.
The goals were scored for the Indomitable Lions by Christian Kofane with two goals scored, Junior Tchamadeu and Karl Eyong Eta with one goal each as well as two own goals from the opponents.
Elvis Teke