CHAN Star Domfack Strikes Cotonsport to top of group A on Elite One return

CHAN stardust Ramsès Domfack hit target for the first time this season, as Gabriel Haman’s men once more regained top position in group A, with 20 points upon return of the MTN Elite One championship.

Cotonsport FC started the second part of the MTN Elite One championship with a win over Renaissance of Ngoumou at the Ngoa Ekelle stadium.

Gabriel Haman started Domfack, alongside Ibrahim Abba and Che Malone, all making their return from the African Nations Championship.

Anicet Koung’s Renaissance debuted the game on a good footing but squandered a couple of chances. Messomo Ngah attempted a lob after a quick exchange with Anaba Metogo in Allambatnam’s area, but the Cotonsport goalie was happy to see it go over his bar at the 20th minute.

Referee Abdoul Mefire denied two penalty claims from either side midway through the first half.

Renaissance’s fans wanted a penalty when Youness Abeng went down in the area rather melodramatically from Ibrahim Abba’s nudge at the half hour mark.

8 minutes after, it was Cotonsport’s turn to get on the referee’s case. Daman Abdouraman whipped in a gorgeous ball well guarded by Wassou who was tackled from behind by Jamal Abdel, but the referee adjudged that the defender got a portion of the ball.

The breakthrough finally came for the Garoua-based outfit at the 41st minute. Ibrahim Abba galloped down the left and found Domfack who took the extra touch and scored on the turn. Domfack is coming off the back of the CHAN where he provided Cameroon’s lone assist for Ngom in the game against Congo.

The second half was much more quicker and Renaissance created chances for an equaliser. A lovely little give and go between Metogo and Messomo lost Ngoni and Malone, but the teenager had his work stopped by Allambatnam who was off his line quickly to clear. The ball ricocheted off Messomo and went out for a goal kick.

A carbon copy of the same chance fell for Renaissance three minutes to the hour mark, and it only took a timely recovery tackle from Malone to stop the forward from scoring.

Anicet Koung had seen enough and opted to send in Enyegue Francois and Mbarga Manga.

Gabriel Haman matched Anicet Koung’s changes, bringing on new recruit Ebube Chukwu and Velaro McGregor.

Ebube Chukwu and McGregor were impact substitutions. The Nigerian stung the palms of goalkeeper Limaleba Vladimir at the 71st minute, and Renaissance were only hanging on a thread with multiplied pressure from Cotonsport.

The remaining 10 minutes were nervy for Cotonsport. There was nearly an own goal when Ali Goni couldn’t readjust his body posture and struck the bar with his attempted clearance at the 81st minute.

Ebube Chukwu was being a handful and he nearly added another goal for Cotonsport at the 83rd minute. Daman drilled in for the center forward whose strike was well parried away by Vladimir Limaleba. The game went on to end 1-0 in favour of the 17-time Elite One winners.

Cotonsport move top of group A while awaiting Colombe’s game against Aigle Royal next Sunday.