Cintia A. , Lebledparle.com
The goal scored in Côte d’Ivoire during the first leg did not help the Indomitable Lions A’, same as the one scored by Angel Yondjo during the second match, which wasn’t enough to qualify Cameroon for the 2025 African Nations Championship. It’s a major disappointment for Simplis Soh and his squad, who had taken a promising lead during the first leg in Abidjan. The Wild cats of Bas-Ubangi sharpened their claws for the Saturday match and with a 1-2 scoreline, the Central African Republic secured their qualification against Cameroon in the last 10 minutes of the match.
Victory seemed within reach until the CAR’s nightmare goal came in the 84th minute. The home team had started the match well, showing offensive intent in the first quarter-hour. Riding this momentum, Angel Yondjo, a new addition to the team, opened the scoring in the 30th minute after missing a chance in the 23rd minute (1-0). With this score, Cameroon was on track to qualify, but the joy was short-lived as ten minutes later, the Fauves of Bas-Ubangi earned a penalty following a foul by Idrissou Nfor on an CAR striker.
The penalty was converted by Central African Republic’s No. 8 (1-1). This score still favored Cameroon’s qualification. To preserve the tie that benefitted his team, Simplis Soh adjusted his tactical setup, switching from a 3-4-3 to a 3-5-2 formation. However, this strategy didn’t seem to help the Lions A’ and at the 84th minute, disaster struck. Facing a three-man defense, the visitors outnumbering the Cameroonian players in their penalty box, exploited the gaps to score the decisive goal (1-2). This result means Angel Yondjo and his teammates will not represent Cameroon in Uganda, Tanzania, or Kenya in 2025.
