MTN Elite one - Union bounces to top seat

Thanks to a 1-0 victory over Coton Sport and a 1-2 defeat suffered by Panthere against Aigle, Union now leads with 30 points.

The 16th day of play of the ongoing MTN Elite One championship took place over the weekend and produced a major upset on the classification table. The defending championships, Coton Sport suffered their first defeat of the season at home to visiting Union of Douala. Union beat Coton Sport 1-0 to obtain their first victory against the colossus from the north in four years. The victory propels Union to the first position after the preceding league leaders, Panthere were equally humbled 1-2 at home by Aigle of the Menoua Division.

Despite the defeat, Panthere occupies an enviable second position with 29 points, two points ahead of Yong sports in the third position. It is worthy to note that Yong Sport has been silently making its progress on the classification chart while attention was focused on the heavyweights of the championship this year like Coton Sport, Union and Panthere.

While it has been good fortunes for Yong Sports, the ill luck continues for Coton Sport of Garoua, who have difficulties in defending their championship title this year. After losing the top seat to Panthere due to a draw obtained against Sable of Batie, Coton Sport slipped further down the chart to the 5th position after the defeat on Sunday against Union. They are five points behind the league leaders and are not likely to catch up on the next day of play despite having a delayed match against Renaissance. The chain of misfortunes following their elimination from the African Champions League and Confederations Cup has caused a toll on the club. Players had a brawl in Douala on their way back from Khartoum after being butted out from the African Confederations Cup by Al Ahly Shandy and the coach, Robert Boivin threw in the towel still as a consequence of that defeat.

Meanwhile there has equally been some shake up at the bottom of the league table where Tiko United has hopped out of the relegation zone thanks to their 1-0 victory over the Benjamin of the group, Scorpion of Bé. It has been a reversal of fortunes for their fellow brothers from the South West region, Njalla Quan Academy who have dropped into the red zone, moving from the 11th to the 13th position. Despite the victory against Panthere, Aigle of Menoua still maintains the first position below the relegation line. Scorpion of Bé occupy the unenviable 14th and last position after having obtained only nine points in 16 days of play, an omen that they are a sure candidate to drop to the Elite Two championship next year.