Before the
match:
Cameroon with a victory
can already qualify for quarter finals and this is double pressure on the
Ivorians as this might be an additional help for Togo who face Cameroon
last. At the 2000 Nations Cup this had already been the second match of
the group and Cameroon had clearly dominated, winning 3:0. It will be an
interesting match up whether the strong Cameroon defenders can contain
the exciting attacking line of the Elephants once more.
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group C
Cameroon have been the optical
attraction not only because the spectacular strike by Patrick Mboma which
provided the win against the DR Congo but also through their new sleeveless
muscle emphasing shirts. Coach Winfried Schaefer seems to have found the
right mixture of improvisationa and organisation around the team and so
Cameroon have to be clear favorites.
It would be a pity if the
talented and sometimes spectacular 'Elephants' left the tournament after
the first round but since the scoreless draw with Togo the Ivorians are
under pressure. Although playing with three attackers they had not been
able to put the ball past the very good Togolese keeper. Today they will
face an even better defence and can expect similar strong goalkeeping against
them so that it will be an uphill struggle definitively.
odds:
Cameroon go into the match
as clear 54% percent favorites to win (odds: 4/6 frac. 1.67 dec.), Côte
d'Ivoire are rated 18% (4/1 frac. 5.0 dec.), a draw 28% (11/5 frac. 3.2
dec.).
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The match
A classic and a showpiece
of West African football and the African Nations Cup. Artistic ball control,
athletic challenges, great technique, wild shots, and enthusiastic respond
by the two fan groups.
The first 20 minutes belong
to Cameroon who have their biggest opportunity after an error by an Ivorian
defender which allows Eto'o to take the ball and run into direction of
the Ivorian goal. But his 20 meter shot clashes narrowly wide
After 25 minutes some promising
attacking attempts by Côte d'Ivoire, though one is ending in yellow
card against Abdel Kader Keita for diving, after 34 minutes another good
scene for the Elephants and Alioum.
Côte d'Ivoire with
a good share of the action and the biggest scene of the second half so
far in the 75th minute when Cameroon keeper Alioum makes a phenomenal save
to deny an Ivorian header crossing the line. Or has it? Two players raise
their arms but there is no evidence.
In the 85th minute a
corner kick for Cameroon and a lack of concentration among the Ivorians.
Mboma jumps unchallenged into the ball and heads it into the goal. - 1:0
After the goal the momentum
is completely on the Lions side and they have two more goal scenes by Eto'o.
final score 1:0
Cameroon are qualified for
the quarterfinals and Côte d'Ivoire hopes are not only pinned on
their last match but also on the right outcome of the other remaining matches
in the group.
match data as published
by CAF Online:
Referee: Gamal El Ghandour
(EGY))
Ass. Referees: Dramane
Dante (MLI), Pedro Simao (ANG)
Scorer: Patrick Mboma 84
Attendance: 15,000
Teams:
Cameroon: 1-Boukar
Alioum; 8-Geremi Fotso Njitap, 5-Raymond Kalla, 4-Rigobert Song, 2-Bill
Tchato; 17-Marc-Vivien Foe, 12-Lauren, 20-Salomon Olembe (21-Daniel Ngom
Kome, 66), 3-Pierre Wome; 9-Samuel Eto`o, 10-Patrick Mboma
Ivory Coast: 1-Losseni
Konate; 8-Ibrahima Kone, 2-Habib Toure, 19-Didier Zokora, 6-Blaise Koffi
Kouassi; 4-Lassina Diabate, 13-Aliou Siby Badara, 3-Mamadou Coulibaly,
7-Tchiressoa Guel (21-Zephirin Zoko, 88); 10-Ibrahima Bakayoko (9-Kandia
Traore, 78), 12-Abdelkader Keita
Cautions:
Ivory Coast: 4- Diabate
(4), 12- Kader (25), 6- Kouassi (35) |
