AFCON U23 Q: Lions Go Through After 3-2 Aggregate Win Against Angola

The Olympic Lions of Cameroon are through to the last round of the 2023 U23 AFCON qualifiers after a stalemate (0-0) against the Palancas Negras of Angola in Yaounde.

The scoreline didn’t tell the the story as the U23 Lions went through a lot of hard work, blood and sweat to keep the game 0-0, which seals Cameroon’s qualification given the 3-2 victory in Angola at the first leg.

Etienne Eto’o playing in a slightly deeper role, made goalkeeper Cambila work first as Cameroon had the fist chance of the game. His shot was parried out after Saidou’s perfectly timed cross at the 13th minute of play.

Alioum Mubarak’s shot followed 2 minutes later but Edmilson Cambila was equal to it.

20 minutes in, Patient Wassou hit the side netting after a lovely combination with Herman Kameni. It wasn’t looking to be Wassou’s day, though early minutes in the game.

Seconds after the Wassou chance, Herman thought he had the goal at his mercy when Alioum did some lovely work down the right, but defender, Denilson Jose was there for a goal line clearance with Cambila clawing back, seemingly beaten.

Angola’s first real chance came from a Camilo Mbule free kick at the 27th minute that had Hecube Ntone scrambling to his right side, and getting finger tips to it.

Herman Kameni and Wassou were working on symbiotic combinations up top and at the 33rd minute, Kameni’s cushion header almost found Wassou whose first effort was saved by Cambila, and then a second bite ricocheted behind for a corner kick.

With one minute of added time left, Herman Kameni struck the upright with his header from a Saidou Ibrahim cross, yet again. And that was pretty much that for the first segment.

Angola’s coach, Joao Claudio went for quick substitutions in the second half to try and change the dynamics of the game, bringing on Pinto Domingo and Mauro Mucutu, two minutes after the half hour mark.

Coach Guy Arman Fetchine replied with three substitutions of his own, as the game became delicately poised.

From there one it was a little bit of argie-bargie from both ends, as Cameroon aimed at consolidating the zero-all scoreline, and Angola kept pushing for a goal to tie the game on aggregate and cement a qualification. Despite Angola’s effort, Meyapya and co held on for the 90 minutes.

Coach Joao Claudio’s men will miss out of the U23 AFCON next year, while Cameroon will play against Gabon in the last qualifying round in March next year.