Cotonsport Defeat Canon 2-0 to clinch record extending 18th league title

Cotonsport of Garoua clocked 18 Championship trophies this evening at the Bepanda reunification stadium, after a 2-0 victory over rivals Canon of Yaounde, in the 2023 Elite One championship play-offs.

It is a third consecutive crown for the Northerners who finished runners-up in group A of the regular season.

Canon Sportif started the more enterprising and nerves were awoken from the side of Cotonsport fans as early as the 5th minute, when Junior Nkoue’s cross fell on the head Tombi Alemi, whose header went wide.

The former Cotonsport forward was free in the 18-yard but he couldn’t direct his header goal-bound.

The onslaught continued and Canon came close from a corner kick nearly converted by Essama Bertin, if not for goalkeeper Allambatnam’s strong hands.

Cotonsport broke open the deadlock against the run of play at the 23rd minute via Aboubakar Daman after an absolute howler by Jordan Mbayinaissem.

Kokolo and Wassou worked out a lovely one-two in the area, but Kokolo’s eventual shot was held and then somehow – fumbled by the keeper before Daman pounced for one-nil. It was the forward’s second goal in the playoffs series after his ecstatic winner against Bamboutos on game day 2.

Canon looked seemingly stunned but searched deep to try and get an equaliser.

Baliang was fouled around the D, and right back Nkoue Junior took the resulting free kick which stung the palms of Allambatnam, and went out for a corner, in the last action of the first stanza.

Back from the locker room, the men of Jean Baptiste Bisseck climbed higher up the field in a bid to finish off the game.

The first chance after the pose fell for Cotonsport’s Reich Kokolo, picked out by Abdouraman. Reich had only the keeper to beat, but the Congolese side footed beyond the keeper and the post at the 55th minute.

Five minutes later, Wassou hassled the ball off Yves Ezoa, but his curled attempt was well read by Jordan Mbayinaissem.

Canon pressed higher to try and get an equaliser but they were caught napping once more through a lightening quick counter led by Wassou Patient.

The Indomitable Lions international sprinted more than half the field before getting the ball from Arthur Banen, and then curled beyond a stretched Mbayinaissem for 2-0 at the 84th minute.

The game ended 2-0 for Cotonsport which sparked joyous scenes in the stadium. Cotonsport will represent Cameroon in next year’s TotalEnergies CAF champions league.