Ten-man Cameroon beat Angola

Cameroon held on to a slim lead to defeat Angola 1-0 despite finishing the Group B encounter with a man less.

“Les Lions Indomptables” grabbed the vital victory in the second game of the Group B fixtures, to join DR Congo at the summit on 3 points each.

The latter beat Ethiopia 3-0 earlier at the same venue in Huye.

Cameroon took the lead after 23 minutes via Coton Sport de Garoua striker Yazid Atouba from a brilliant free kick.

He delivered a curling shot from the edge of the penalty area leaving the Angola goalie with little option.

The Lions managed to hold on to victory after defender Joseph Ngwem received the marching off orders 20 minutes from time.

The victory served a sweet revenge for Cameroon, who were denied a place in the semi-finals five years ago in Sudan when they lost to Angola on penalties.

Both sides started the game on a speedy note searching for the opener. But there were little action in front of the net, and goalkeepers Landu Mavanga (Angola) and Nyame Hugo Patrick (Cameroon) had a quiet first quarter of the hour.

Atouba sent the small crowd in Huye stands applauding after he fired a brilliant free kick inside Mavanga’s net to give Cameroon the lead which turned out to be the winner.

“Les Lions Indomptables” kept pressing after the break searching for the second goal but Mavanga stood between them and that.

Angola saw their chances boosted when Unisport’s defender Ngwem was shown the red card on 70 minutes. But the Cameroon defense and shot stopper Nyame held on to cruise to their maiden victory.

DR Congo leads the pack with superior goals, despite having three points same as Cameroon.

Angola and Ethiopia follow in that order with no point.

Cameroon faces Ethiopia on Wednesday while Angola takes on DR Congo, both in Huye.

Orange Man of the Match

Yazid Atouba (Cameroon)