International Football

Cameroon’s Lions Are Not Indomitable

Published

7 years ago

August 29, 2017

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

When Nigeria hosts Cameroon on Friday in Uyo in a 2018 World Cup qualifiers, it will be the 21st time both teams will be going head-to-head. However in recent time, Nigerian football followers are often jittery in fixtures with Cameroon.

Sports Village Square can confirm that past results swayed greatly in favour of Nigeria. Last Sunday marked 26 years since Cameroon ever beat Nigeria in regulation time. It was a World Cup qualifying match for Italia’ 90 – a tie in which Nigeria needed just a draw to advance to the last straight knock-out qualifying duel.

But the Super Eagles are still being haunted by the sad loss through penalty shootout of the final match of the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations when scores at regulation time and extra time stood at 2-2. Until about a decade ago, Nigeria-Cameroon fixture was almost like a recurring decimal.

But in spite of the intimidating stature of the Indomitable Lions, results have always been in Nigeria’s favour. In 20 matches, Nigeria won 12 times as against three clear victories by Cameroon. The remaining five were drawn – including the February 13, 2000 Africa Cup final in which penalty kicks were used as tie-breaker.

Not only that, Nigeria had beaten Cameroon in Yaounde three times in the past including the occasion when the massive Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium was opened on February 13, 1972 ahead of the hosting of the eighth edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria did not only mar the occasion for Cameroon by beating the hosts 2-1, it is on record that the first goal at that stadium was scored by a Nigerian – Josiah Dombraiye who netted a brace. Other instances Nigeria beat Cameroon in Yaounde include the January 1 1963 return leg match of the then Kwame Nkrumah Cup organized by the West African Football Federations (WAFF), forerunners to the current West African Football Union. Cameroon was one of the founding countries of WAFF when it was established in Accra in March 1959.

Nigeria won in Yaounde after an earlier 3-1 win in Lagos. Also, a goalless World Cup qualifying match in Lagos on December 7, 1968 was followed with a 3-2 defeat of Cameroon in Yaounde on December 22, 1968.

The Nigerian soil has always been a poor hunting ground for Cameroon whose best result remain the 2-2 draw in Lagos in 2000 and perhaps the goalless outings of 1968 and that of February 2, 1980 at the then Liberty Stadium Ibadan when the legendary goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala last played for Nigeria.

The first time Cameroon ever beat Nigeria was in the final match of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Nigeria lost 1-3 after taking an early lead by Muda Lawal’s early strike.

The second time Nigeria lost to Cameroon was also an African Cup of Nations final match in which a clear goal by Henry Nwosu was disallowed while a doubtful penalty kick was awarded Cameroon by the Mauritanian referee, Idrissa Sarr to Cameroon which was converted by Emmanue Kunde.

The only edge Cameroon probably have over Nigeria is the fact that the first three times the Lions won the Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles were the losers – 1984, 1988 and 2000.

Nigeria vs. Cameroon: Head-to-Head

P W D L F A GD

Nigeria 20 12 5 3 31 16 +15

Cameroon 20 3 5 12 16 31 -15

26 Apr. 1960 (F-Lome) Cameroon 0-0 Nigeria
8 Dec.1962 (Nkrumah Cup – Lagos) Nigeria 3-1 Cameroon
1 Jan.1963 (Nkrumah- Yaounde) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
20 July 1966 (F- Fanando Po) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
1968 (WCq- Lagos) Nigeria 1-1Cameroon
22 Dec.1968 (WCq – Yaounde) Cameroon 2-3 Nigeria
13 Feb.1972 (F- Yaounde) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
22 Jan. 1975 (F – Lagos) Nigeria 1-0 Cameroon
2 Feb. 1980 (F- Ibadan) Nigeria 0 -0 Cameroon
18 Mar.1984 (Afcon – Abidjan) Cameroon 3-1 Nigeria
17 Mar. 1988(Afcon – Rabat Cameroon 1-1Nigeria
27 Mar.1988 (Afcon – Casablanca) Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria
10 June1989 (WCq- Ibadan) Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon
1989 (WCq – Yaounde) Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria
25 Jan.1992 (Afcon – Dakar) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
1997 (LG Cup – Tunis) Cameroon 0-1 Nigeria
13 .Feb. 2000 (Afcon- Lagos) Nigeria 2-2 Cameroon *(3-4 pso).
1 June2003 (LG Cup- Lagos) Nigeria 3-0 Cameroon *aet
Feb.2004 (Afcon – Monastir) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
Oct. 2015 (F-Vise, Belgium) Cameroon 0-3 Nigeria

International Football

Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official

Published

3 weeks ago

July 8, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Abdellatif Akhrif, IRT player reported missing off the coast of M'diq this Saturday, July 6, 2024. © COPYRIGHT: IRT

Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.

They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.

“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.

The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.

While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.

Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.

-Reuters

International Football

FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money

Published

4 weeks ago

June 27, 2024

Kunle Solaja

FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development and former soccer manager Arsene Wenger speaks during the 74th FIFA Congress at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.

FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.

Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.

“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.

“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”

FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.

Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.

-Reuters

International Football

Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint

Published

1 month ago

June 21, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.

Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.

“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.

Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.

After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.

Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.

-Reuters