African champions pick up 4th win in 12 months

Cameroon have won Kuwait by 3 goals to 1 at an international friendly played Sunday 25th March in the Middle East. 

Playing against little known Kuwait, the outcome was as expected even though fans of the indomitable lions craved for more goals. Some think the African champions gambled over the victory having failed to keep a clean sheet.

Since beating continental giants Egypt 2-1 in February last year, to clinch Africa’s supreme silverware, Cameroon have won just 4 out of 12 matches played. the 3-1 triumph was also their 9th in 26 games since March 2016.

The kick-off scheduled at 4.30 pm happened 7 minutes late for obvious reasons. At the beginning of the first segment, Cameroon looked uncontainable by Kuwait as they chased for possession in vain. Cameroon’s spirited start paid off when Fai Collin’s diagonal cross found a combat ready Aboubakar. The FC Porto hit-man tapped in with his right foot to give Coach Belinga’s side a deserving lead at the 11th minute. Five minutes later, Christian Bassogog benefitted from a tussle to slot in Cameroon’s second of the day.

It took the hosts half an hour to fire two shots, one of them well saved by Fabrice Ondoa who had substituted Andre Onana. Five minutes later, the Kuwaitis fired another dangerous strike as if to say they had woken up from slumber completely. Cameroon enjoyed an avalanche of chances but finishing was another ball game, especially for Njie Clinton who squandered a golden opportunity before the half time whistle.

The second half which was marked by several substitutions was not as dramatic as the first. The stand out performance came from the 2017 AFCON Best player Bassogog.  The Henan Jianye forward mustered courage, dribbled pass a couple of Kuwaitis and pulled the trigger to make it 3 nil for Cameroon at the 56th minute. The only other impressive move came at the 61st minute when Kuwait benefitted from a defensive flop by Michael Ngandeu to pull one back. 

New call ups like Stephane Bahoken, Ngah Fabrice and Leandre Tawamba made their debuts except Bong Lionel. Coach Alexandre Belinga also tested all of his goalkeepers especially the veteran Idris Carlos Kameni.