International Football
CAMEROON SPOIL AFRICA’S PERFECT RUN
African champions, Cameroon are the spoilers, as they became the first African sides to lose a match in the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil.
The Cameroonians were stunned 1-0 by Tajikistan. Tajikistan’s head coach, Zaynidin Rakhimov, made a perfect pair of half-time subs – Amadoni Kamolov and Rustam Soirov came off the bench and combined to win the penalty kick that sealed the game.
It was a perfect way to start for the Central Asians in their first match on the world stage since 2007, while the Cameroonians were left licking their wounds on their return after a 16-year absence.
Tajikistan showed some resolute defending and strong organisation to survive an early onslaught from a Cameroon side who dominated goalscoring opportunities.
The Tajiks, who relied largely on counter-attacks, took the lead as Rahmatov converted from the penalty spot six minutes after the interval following a foul from Cameroon goalkeeper Manfred Ekoi.
Tajikistan, having had a goal chalked off after a VAR review, were then reduced to 10 men when Shuhrat Elmurodov was dismissed for a second cautionable offence with just under 20 minutes remaining.