Category: Sports

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 Muluh Alfred

Cameroonian NBA player Pascal Siakam made his debut for the Pacers in an unfortunate 118-115 loss to the Blazers after his blockbuster trade.

Despite the outcome, Siakam showcased his skills and proved to be one of his team’s top three players scoring 21 points on 9-of-14 shots, accompanied by six rebounds and three assists.

‘I’m excited, I think we have the opportunity to do something special and I want to be part of it’ Siakam said after his debut.

Pascal Siakam only joined the pacers 2 days ago when The Toronto Raptors agreed to trade the two-time all-star basketball forward to the Indiana Pacers in return for Bruce Brown Jr and three first-round draft picks to Toronto.

Siakam and the Pacers will face the Suns next on Sunday, then he’ll be set to make his home debut against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.

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