Elite One: Apejes’ Dream Turn Nightmarish As Cotonsport Scoop 16th Title

Cotonsport of Garoua are for the 16th time Elite One champions after a their three – one win over Apejes of Mfou in this year’s Elite One Championship Playoff final.

The semis indeed turned out to be trickiest path to Cotonsport’s crown as they only managed to leapfrog Fovu (6-5) on penalties. The Cotonites then made it look so easy on the eye this evening against Apejes, at the Japoma Sports complex.

2016 Cameroon cup winners Apejes Academy hoped for their first ever Elite One title but fell short to a better Cotonsport side.

Cotonsport started aggressively right from the onset. 5 minutes in, right back Eta Bawak spread out a swerving ball perfectly collected and aimed with power on target but Hecube parried away.

Tombi Alemi was then booked for going hard on Calistus Anjeh Akoh as Cotonsport looked to gas Apejes out with a high press system.

With a quarter of the game played, Bailang’s ball over the top was matched by Souabou’s run down the left put his poor cross fell behind Tombi Alemi.

More engagements surfaced and it wasn’t long until the referee brandished a second yellow for Cotonsport. This time, it was Thomas Eta Bawak who was found guilty of pushing.

A Cotonsport counter was generated from that set piece and Frank Nankep brought Tombi Alemi down in the box. Francis Bailang stepped up with a slow runner to beat goalkeeper Hecube from the spot at the 29th minute to gift Cotonsport the lead.

Marou was having a stinker in the first half. He once again was set free in the Apejes camp but with a trademark attacking instinct, selfishly went for goal instead of setting up Alemi who was free in the middle.

Five minutes after the pose, Marou Souabou made amends for all the earlier misses as he pounced on a ball in the Apejes area to hammer home Cotonsport’s second in the game.

Coach Ema Ndongo was already all sweaty and in all truth, it was that kind of day.

It took a defensive howler from Junior Kotto (58) that led to Tombi Alemi’s goal after Junior Hecube’s attempted clearance to salvage the situation, met the head of the center forward.

Apejes looked unsettled and even half chances from open play was few and far between. The entrance of Gerald Bakinde temporarily settled the midfeild issues but the damage from Aboubakar Souleymanou’s men was long inflicted.

Second half Apejes substitute – Apam did get the ball into the net at the 80th minute but he was flagged off-site.

Gweth however got a consolation at the 91st minute for Apejes but it seemed a little too late.

Cotonsport weighed down Apejes with strategic game management and that was pretty much that.

Starting 11 Apejes
Junior Hecube GK

Defenders
Igor
Kotto
Yampili
Kouamejo

Midfeilders
Yerima
Vitalis
Efquet

Attackers
Ngom
Gwet
Akoh

Cotonsport stating 11
Anye Derrick GK

Defenders
Bawak ETA
Houzafi
Ngomo
Hassana

Midfeilders
Ebongue
Oukine
Bailang
Mourso

Attackers
Alemi
Marou

Cotonsport now set sight in their upcoming CAF Confederation cup game against Mangasports on Oct. 15. They were semifinalists last time out.