Elite One Opener: Doualla Sparkles on Debut but Canon Held by Resilient Stade Renard

The first game of this season’s MTN Elite One championship, at the Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium started on a slow footing at the iconic Ahmadou. The encounter between local giants Canon Yaoundé and the 2023 runners-up, Stade Renard of Melong played to a zero-all tie.

Both sides displayed tactical discipline that cancelled out any offensive breakthroughs.

The headline story of the afternoon was the official debut of Nathan Doualla for the Kpa-Kum. The former Victoria United playmaker, whose move to the capital was the talk of the transfer window, was handed a starting spot and immediately became the focal point of Canon’s creative efforts. Doualla was in action for 61 minutes, showing glimpses of the composure and vision that earned him national recognition. His performance was nearly capped with a dream debut goal in the first half when he found space at the edge of the penalty area and fired a shot that looked destined for the back of the net.

However, the excitement of the home crowd was cut short by a moment of defensive brilliance from Stade Renard. Defender Koum Dippita proved to be the hero for the visitors, producing a superb goal-line block to deny Doualla’s goal-bound effort. This intervention preserved the clean sheet for the Melong-based side and ultimately secured them a valuable point on the road.

While Canon Yaoundé controlled significant portions of the match, the organized defensive structure of Stade Renard reminded the league why they were title contenders just two seasons ago. The tactical battle intensified following Doualla’s substitution in the second half, with both teams eventually settling for a share of the spoils.

For Canon, the match served as a promising introduction for their new star player, while Stade Renard returns home satisfied with a hard-earned draw against a direct rival in one of the league’s toughest venues.