UNIFFAC U17: Cadet Lions Defeat CAR 4-0 In Opener

Cameroon opened its 2023 UNIFFAC U17 campaign with a four-nil win over the Central African Republic at the Omnisport Omnisport stadium in Limbe, this Thursday, Jan. 12.

A goal from Fi Akamba, another from Tize Abib and Yondjo’s brace made sure of all three points for the Cadet Lions.

Cameroon started throwing jabs in the earlier exchanges with two shots on target: one from Angel Jondjo (4th minute), and the other from skipper, Aristide Djimi (6th minute). All two attempts were matched by goalkeeper Fulgence Ganazoui.

Fiala’s men continued to boss the proceedings without any real threat midway through the first half.

Mballa and Kegni played as two pivots at the base, with one offensive mid – Fi Akamba keeping it slick in front of those two.

The Central African Republic could only hold on up untill the 36th minute after goalkeeper Fulgence Ganazoui tried to sniff danger and ran off his line to clear the ball from the cleats of Angel Yondjo. Ki Akamba had the ball just on the edge of the ‘D’ and he passed into the net for 1-0 Cameroon.

CAR showed more industry only after the game restarted in the second stanza and it led to the team’s first shot on target at the 52nd minute.

The ball ricocheted off Cameroonian players before it fell kindly for Dario Ngombe who brought out the first save of the game from goalkeeper Junior Abou.

Cameroon doubled their advantage 55 minutes in. Yondjo drew a foul on the edge of the area, and the resulting free kick was spilled by goalkeeper Fulgence Ganazoui. Tize Abib slotted from the near post to make it 2-0 for the men of Jean Pierre Fiala.

Angel Yondjo was in the hustle all afternoon long and it finally paid dividends in the 70th minute when he was set free by Kegni. He made no mistake. The Ecole de Foot starlet blasted beyond an out stretched Ganazoui.

Yondjo completed his brace four minutes after getting his first. His second was pretty much like the first, as he fed on scraps in the area and showed inch perfect finishing skills when he received the ball from a set-play.

At four – nil, it was game-set-and-match for the Central African Republic who had exhausted her ideas.

From an initial 5 teams, the 2023 U23 UNIFFAC was narrowed to 3 teams after DR Congo pulled out, and Chad got disqualified on the eve of the tournament’s opener.

Cameroon plays against Congo Brazzaville on Sunday. The first two teams will qualify for the U17 AFCON in April