AFCON2021: Cameroon Hand’s Cape Verde Round Of 16 Hopes With A Draw

Elvis Kang

Sports Writer-Mysoccer24.com

HIGHLIGHTS

• Vincent Aboubakar scored his 5th goal of the tournament
• Cape Verde to wait for best loser spots 
• Cameroon takes unbeaten run to knock-out stages 

MATCH REPORT

Cameroon and Cape Verde were on action at the Paul Biya Stadium on Monday in a bid to maintain their unblemished record at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations. a positive result in Olembe.

Cameroon has already qualified for the round of 16, while Cape Verde tried to join the host country in the round of 16 with a positive result in Olembe but the business did not favor the team as they look forward to returning home

With Cameroon already at the round of 16, Coach Antonio Conceicao made some changes bringing in St Etienne defender Arold Desty Moukoudi in place Jean Charles Castlletto who did not make it at the bench for his team, Samuel Yves Oum Gouet, and Pierre Kunde Malong returned at the middle of the park with a 4-1-4-1 formation. Collins Fai starts at right-back with Nouhou Tolo on the other side, while Harold Moukoudi and Michael Ngadeu team up at center-back. Samuel Oum Gouet played as a holding midfielder behind the pair of Pierre Kunde and Andre Anguissa, while Nicolas Ngamaleu and Karl Toko Ekambi cover the right and left-wing respectively. Captain Vincent Aboubakar leads the attack, just as expected

Meanwhile, Cape Verde coach Humbertto Frederico brought Lisandro Semedo and Willy Johnson Semedo. Bubista appears opted for a 3-4-2-1 formation with Vozinha starting between the sticks and Diney Borges, Roberto Lopes as well as captain Stopira in defense.

Jeffry Fortes plays at right wing-back with Dylan Tavares on the other side, while Patrick Andrade and Kenny Santos link up in midfield. Lisandro Semedo and Jamiro Monteiro play behind center-forward Willi Semedo

The game started with total energy from team Cameroon who needed an early goal to make sure their campaign for three wins in a roll is sure. At the 8th minute of the game, Cameroon almost open the scoring with Ngadeu getting the ball in the 18 yards but his shot was weak and was blocked by the defensive wall of Cape Verde

Cameroon dominated a greater share of possession and tempo, much to the surprise of no one as they have been in impressive goalscoring form with their attacking machinery upfront lead by captain Aboubakar Vincent  and Cape Verde knew that and sitting deep and defending not to concede another goal

Cameroon Star Ngamaleu gets a deflected cross in from the right and finds Aboubakar, who tries the volley but just misses the crossbar at the 17th minute

At the 26th minute, Cape Verde shows some teeth as they almost cause Cameroon’s own goal. A ball comes in from the left and is deflected by Oum Gouet, which almost catches Onana by surprise and it should have been an opener for the stubborn Cape Verde who was desperately in need of an early goal

Cameroon with another chance when captain Aboubakar with a shot from long range but goalkeeper Vozinha made with a difficult save to send the ball out for a corner at the 33rd minutes to deny Aboubakar an opener

With 10 minutes to half time, Cameroon break the deadlock through their top scorer Vincent Aboubakar when the defense of Cape Verde tried to clear the ball from a freekick but the ball fell at the leg of the Cameroon Captain who made no mistake and gave his team an opener and his firth in the competition

Cameroon keeper Andrew Onana loses the ball and Stopira gets the chance to score in front of an open net. But his shot was blocked by a Cameroonian defender Harold Moukoudi

HALFTIME

CAPE VERDE 0 – 1 CAMEROON

The second half got on the way with coach Humbertto Frederico in Garry Rodriques in place of Lisandro Semedo to add more flesh to his attack

Cape Verde began dominating the game in the second quarter with a beautiful style of play and it paid off as substitute Garry Rodrigues when Santos gets the ball inside the area on the right and passes it back to Olympiacos ace Rodrigues, who hits the back of the net with a stunning right-footed to give Cape Verde an equalizer at the 53rd minute

Cameroon’s history of getting three straight winds began going down the drain as all efforts to get back to the game and get another goal proved abortive.

Coach Antonio Conceicao Made some changes bring on Jeme Siliki at the 62nd minute to offset Cape Verde at the midfield but the defensive compartment was steady enough not to concede a second that would have killed their hopes of making it to the round of 16

Cameroon dominated 64% of possession throughout the match against Cape Verde. The Indomitable Lions registered a total of 14 shots, three of which were on target.

The Blue Sharks, on the other hand, got four shots, half of which were on target.

It ended one apiece at the Olembe Stadium with Cape Verde finishing 3rd in group A and Cape Verde can still go through from third place but they will have to wait till the other round of games gets to an end to know if they will go through as one of the best losers in  the tournament

FULLTIME

CAPE VERDE 1 – 1 CAMEROON

MAN OF THE MATCH