2018 World Cup: Cameroon qualifies for third round

Cameroon has moved to the third round of the qualifying series for the 2018 World Cup to take place in Russia.

After trouncing the Antelopes of Niger 3-0 in the away leg on November 13, the Indomitable Lions played a goalless draw on Tuesday in Mfandena to clinch a place in the third round qualifiers 3-0 on aggregate.

However, the road to Russia is still long as Cameroon will have to emerge group champions in the third round and the winner of the round robin confrontation qualifies for the final round of the tournament.

Fans of the Indomitable Lions were however dissatisfied as they had thronged the stadium expecting a goal festival, but the fruits failed to bear the promise of the flowers that bloomed on November 13. Though sterile, the match was full of action from the moment the ball was set rolling to the final blast of the whistle.

After provoking a scare in the Cameroon camp barely two minutes into the encounter when goalkeeper Kameni deflected the ball to hit the goal post following a shot volley from Moussa Maazou, the Lions took the upper hand in the game pushing the Antelopes in their own half but failed to concretise the several scoring opportunities they created up front.

At the 21st minute, Njie Clinton squandered an opportunity to open scores when he came face to face with goalkeeper Daouda Kassaly of Niger. It was the turn of Aboubakar Vincent to miss glaring opportunities at the 26th and 40th minutes.

The spectators were active participants in the game as they cheered each time there was a good play from the Lions and shouts of regret each time they missed a scoring opportunity as hope that the Lions were going to obtain a goal was rife right till the last minute of the game.

The Niger onslaught was easy to contain for the Lions as the stereotype game of always seeking for their star striker, Moussa Maazou was understood by the lions who intercepted the ball each time before it got to him.

There was an impressive turn-out of Niger fans, who arrived in the stadium in three chartered buses. They were small in size as compared to the Cameroonian fans but very boisterous and celebrated the draw as if they had won the match.

Though Cameroon had the upper hand in the game, they obtained the draw thanks to the prowess of a majestic Carlos Kameni who made two crucial saves in the encounter. The Lions did the essential by qualifying for the third round qualifiers.