Category: Sports

The Cameroon women’s national football team has been eliminated by Nigeria in the third round of the Paris Olympic qualifiers.

The Lionesses suffered a 0-1 defeat in Abuja in the second leg outing following a 0-0 tie in Douala on February 23.

The crucial encounter at the Moshood Abiola Stadium was settled by Esther Okoronkwo in the 14th minute, through a Jennifer Echegeni assist.

Nigeria clung to the lead until the end of the game that had the visitors finishing with 10 players after Enganemben Annie was shown a red card in the 91st minute.

Aboudi Onguene and teammates struggled in vain to overturn the lead in efforts that lacked Ajara’s complementing tenacity. The forward was declared unavailable for the doubleheader against the Super Falcons due to an injury, and was replaced by Flora Kameni.

Nigeria’s star player Asisat Oshoala only got in in the 60th minute. The former Barcelona striker did not impact much in the game.

Nigeria advance to the fourth and final round of the qualifiers, where they will
play either Tanzania or South Africa in April.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Friday’s highly anticipated match between Cameroon and Nigeria lived up to expectations, delivering a captivating display of football from both teams. The clash between these two football powerhouses showcased a combination of skill, strategy, and determination, providing football enthusiasts with a spectacle worth the anticipation.

It also demonstrated that in spite of their recent poor performances, Cameroon has jealously guarded its drop of greatness and fighting spirit in the women’s game.The intensity of the match reflected the historical rivalry between the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon and the Super Falcons of Nigeria. Fans witnessed a contest that went beyond individual talents, with both teams demonstrating a collective spirit, resilience, and a hunger for victory.

Tactically, the coaches from both sides played a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of the game. Cameroonian coach Jean Baptiste Bisseck surprised football enthusiasts by fielding an unusual lineup with a completely experimental at
tack that comprised Flora Kameni, Lamine Mana and Nkénké Julie Nina. This strategic move added an element of unpredictability to the Cameroonian game and challenged the experienced Nigerian team. Nigeria, equipped with experienced players like Asisat Oshoala, showcased their prowess and adaptability on the field, but on several occasions they were stopped by the resilient Cameroonians.

Defensively, the Cameroonian backline effectively contained renowned players, exemplified by their ability to put Oshoala under lock and key. Eliane Mambolambo and Magué Mariane Inès proved a much improved pair, and goalkeeper Cathy Bihina simply inspired confidence with her brilliant goalkeeping. The tactical battle extended to the midfield, with Cameroon’s coach strategically covering spaces, preventing the Nigerians from expressing themselves comfortably.

Creative midfielder Charlène Meyong’s impeccable ball distribution to the Cameroonian final third was a highlight as the Indomitable Lionesses demonstrated exceptional en
durance management, visibly reserving energy for the return leg in Abuja.

Noteworthy performances from players like Lamine Mana and Aboudi Onguene highlighted the blend of youthful talent and veteran experience within the Cameroonian squad. Lamine Mana in particular, emerged as a standout player, proving herself as the future of the team with breathtaking incursions from the right.

Veteran striker Aboudi Onguene also proved she still has a lot to offer, as her introduction in the second half brought added options, allowing Cameroon to mount more pressure on Nigeria from the corridor. The goalless draw adds an extra layer of excitement and uncertainty, setting the stage for a thrilling return leg in Abuja, Nigeria on Monday. With nothing decided in the first leg encounter, both teams head into the next match with qualification still wide open. Coach Bisseck’s determination to pursue a ticket for Paris, regardless of the opponent’s strengths, adds to the anticipation surrounding the upcoming clash.

For the I
ndomitable Lionesses to secure qualification in the return leg match in Nigeria, adopting a strategy focused on minimizing pressure and eliminating an inferiority complex is crucial. Playing as a cohesive unit, emphasizing their chances, and strategically exploiting the wings – where their most successful opportunities were generated in the first leg in Douala – can be pivotal for their success. This approach aims to create a solid defensive block while capitalizing on offensive strengths for a well-rounded performance.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

In a display of sheer dominance, athletes from the North West Region clinched the top spots in both the senior men’s and women’s categories at the 29th edition of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope.

The event, held at the Molyko Omnisport Stadium in Buéa from February 23 to 25, 2024, witnessed exhilarating performances from participants across the nation.

In the fiercely contested senior men’s category, Elvis Nsabinla emerged victorious with a remarkable time of 4 hours, 47.4 minutes, closely followed by Amadou Abou, who finished just milliseconds behind. Saidu Numu secured the third position.

Meanwhile, the senior women’s category saw a similar story unfold as athletes from the North West Region dominated the podium. Irene Adamu Kwaha clinched the top spot with a commendable time of 5 hours, 36.3 minutes, followed by Tum Macrina and Ngalim Lisette, who secured the second and third positions, respectively.

The event was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including the Minister of Sports and Physical Education-N
ational, Narcisse Mouelle Kimbi, and the South West Governor, Okalia Bilia.

The first winners were awarded a prize of 10 million Francs CFA alongside other prizes from partnering companies who equally contributed to gracing the ceremony.

However, amidst the celebrations, tragedy struck with the untimely demise of 33-year-old Kenyan athlete, Charles Kipsang. Moments after crossing the finish line, Kipsang tragically collapsed and later on passed away, casting a somber shadow over the event.

The Governor of the South West Region while reacting to the incident expressed his condolences as he assured that medical practitioners are at work to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.

‘…He said that next time he will win. So we cannot say what happened until the medical doctors do their work.’ Okalia Bilia stated.

Despite the somber note, the 29th edition of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope will be remembered for the outstanding performances of the athletes, particularly those from the North West regio
n, who showcased their talent and determination on the challenging terrain of Mount Cameroon.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

In 2023, the 28th edition of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, which was also celebrating its 50th anniversary, took place amidst ongoing insecurity in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon.

Unfortunately, the event was marred by several explosions resulting in casualties among athletes, spectators, and others who required hospitalization.

Moreover, the race presented some challenges, including unfamiliarity with the area, according to Emmanuel Motomby Mbome, the President of the Cameroon Athletic Federation. Some athletes lost track, resulting in missed opportunities for podium positions.

Additionally, anonymous athletes articulated concerns about the logging process, which they felt was handled too close to the race day, not allowing for proper rest and preparation.

‘ The problem is that they only lodge use on the eve of the Race’

Nevertheless, the race persevered and 32-year-old Adamu Issa Bouba emerged victorious in the male category, while Adamou Issa Bouba triumphed in the female category.

Looki
ng ahead, the 2024 edition of the race is expected to be an improvement over the previous year, with a focus on security being a top priority.

The Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Professor Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, has assured athletes that all necessary precautions have been taken to ensure the security of participants and their belongings.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

During a pre-evaluation meeting presided over by Cameroon’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education on February 20th in Yaounde, the president of the Cameroon Athletic Federation Emmanuel Motomby Mbome reassured that everything is set to host the 2024 mount Cameroon race.

‘We are set, we cannot talk of the Mount Cameroon race of Hope if the track is not clean. Technical officials have been placed from the submit to the molyko stadium’ the president said.

This year’s edition of the mount Cameroon Race of Hope which is the 29th edition is themed ‘Let’s Give Peace a Chance’ and is set to welcome 602 athletes across various categories.

The iconic race will be hosted in the context of insecurity just like the previous editions, but the president however reassured tight security while hoping on God

‘We decided to take the theme ‘Let’s Give Peace a Chance’ because of the security challenges we have, I hope that the good Lord will be on our site so that we have a wonderful mountain Cameroon race of hope 2024?

The Mount Cameroon Race is set to start on February 23, 2024 in the town of Buea with the main taking place on Saturday.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Lobe has said Ivory Coast’s victory at the AFCON 2023 was bought.

She accused President Alassane Ouattara of influencing the outcome. In her response during an interview on Dash TV, Suzanne Kala-Lobe said everything was orchestrated in favour of the hosts.

‘I asked myself that how does a team that comes that far go that far if there was no social, economic and political mechanism of control. And I told myself that Ouattara could not let the AFCON go’ the journalist indicated.

‘I started doubting when I saw Ivory Coast advancing either after prolongations or penalty shootouts’ she said. ‘It made me curious. It did not just happen once, but in a systematic manner. It made me recall the 1978 World Cup with Argentina, where we realised that football is not simply as it is, that it’s not just about sports. We realised that a player can play poorly deliberately. It’s a business.’

Kala-Lobe, 71, added that ‘We cannot underestimate Ouattara, because he is one of the biggest politicians on the African continent.’

‘
In this AFCON, there were interests of money, there were interests for the political, economic, and financial control of the Sahel’ she noted.

The veteran journalist said it was very obvious for someone in that position as a president. ‘If I were the Head of State in that position, I’m not sure that I would have let the AFCON go’ she said, pointing out that ‘we need to open the eyes of the world, that everything is not just simple.’

The 34th AFCON was full of surprises, with underdogs like Mozambique, Namibia, Equatorial Guinea and Angola stunning powerhouses like Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Tunisia and Algeria.

The biggest of the surprises was Ivory Coast’s win in the final after advancing from the group stage as one of the best third-place teams.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The two African countries, Sénégal and Egypt who qualified for the 2024 Beach Soccer world cup in Dubai have been eliminated at the group stage of competition, shattering their hopes of competing for the elusive title.

Africa’s Beach Soccer champions Senegal was eliminated after losing 4-6 to Japan in their 3rd and last group C game which propelled them to a 3rd place finish in their group with 3 points, 1 win and 2 defeats.

Egypt on the other hand finished 3rd in group A after winning their lone game of the competition 5-4 against USA and lost to Italy and the United Arab Emirates.

The 16 Nations competition will pit the top two teams of each group including Japan, Iran, Belarus, Brazil, Portugal, Italy, United Arab Emirates and Tahiti at the quarter finals.

The quarter finals will place Brazil against Japan, Belarus will face Portugal, IRAN will play the United Arab Emirates while Italy will face Tahiti.

Source: Cameroon News Agency