Who is who at Cameroon Cup Quarters?

Victoria United (Opopo) Vs. Racing of Bafoussam 

Photo credit: Mbuye Basil

Flying Victoria United of Limbe have been paired with top-flight club Racing of Bafoussam for the quarterfinal of the 2017 National Challenge Cup of Cameroon. 

The fixtures were known Tuesday 24 October following the draw conducted at the FECAFOOT headquarters in Tsinga-Yaoundé.   

Opopo are on the brink of the most remarkable stories especially to the South West Region of Cameroon. After missing an Elite 2 battle in December, the 2016 regional champions are on course for a second chance. Winning the Cameroon Cup as the only other SW club after Mt. Cameroon FC (2002) will be an incredible tale on so many levels for Coach Mbock Maput. 

Created in 1974, the sea side resort club first tasted elite football in 1991. Since 2004, the club has been in the doldrums. That was the era of the Late Henry Njalla Quan and others. The new management under President Ndive Thomas is in for nothing but the zenith.

On their part Racing FC want to end the season gloriously after they were relegated from the MTN Elite 1 this year. Le Tout Pouissant are forces to reckon with despite troubling times. The Bamendzi club won the title in 1996, and have been runners up four times. 

The Lone Derby at the quarters

Elite side New Stars of Douala will face second tier and city rivals Douala Athletic Club 2000 in the lone derby of the quarter finals.

Going by the prevailing paradigm in soccer, there is no underdog. But, on paper, DAC may be written off after they ended the 2016-17 Professional League 2 at the bottom with 34 points. 

New Stars were far from a brilliant campaign, finishing 9th in the Cameroon Premier League with 44 points. 

YOSA on Standby 

Other classics like 2013 champions Yong Sport Academy rumble off with either Lion Blessé of Foutouni or amateurs Afrika Sport of Yaoundé. YOSA look like they want to leave it at nothing but clinch the silverware. That done, Coach Ndumbe Bosso must have steered his ship back to glory after missing a top three finish this year in the MTN Elite 1, and a poor run at  the 2016-17 CAF Cup. They were knocked out of at the round of 16 by Sfaxien of Tunisia. 

The 8th final encounter between Lion Blessé and Afrika Sport of Yaoundé was halted by organizers on account of a player-eligibility appeal filed by Bamboutos President. However, the ‘wounded lions’ of Foutuni have been cleared to play after meticulous examination by the homologation and disciplinary commission of FECAFOOT.  The delayed game comes up on Thursday 26 October 2017 at the Reunification Stadium in Douala.

UMS Vs. FC Yaoundé II

UMS

2016 league champions UMS of Loum are pitted against elite 2 victors FC Yaoundé II. Yaoundé Deux probably have nothing to lose as compared to the Loum club at this crucial stage of the competition. 

Not long after qualifying for Cameroon’s second tier (December 2016), they have shot themselves to the top, and will in the coming MTN Elite 1 campaign measure shoulders with other contenders.

FC Yaoundé II

In spite of all, pundits still tip UMS of Loum as favourites. They lifted the trophy in 2015, defeating Coton Sport, Canon Yaoundé and Union Douala on their way to the final. In the final, they defeated Panthère of Ndé 2–0.