Cameroonian clubs ousted from African Champions League

The last two survivors; Coton Sport and Cosmos, were bundled out in the 16th finals on April 5, 2015.

It has been the end of the road for Cameroonian clubs engaged in continental competitions. After the elimination of the – and – in the preliminary round of the confederations cup, it was the turn of Coton Sport and Cosmos to be eliminated in the round of 16 of the African champion’s league.

After a shocking 0-0 tie with Sanga Balende of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the away leg at the Roumde Adja stadium a fortnight ago in Garoua, the 11 times Cameroon champion was thrashed 2-0 in the return leg at the Tata Raphael stadium in Kinshasa on Sunday.

While the elimination of Coton Sport came as surprise, that of Cosmos Bafia was expected given that the club from Bafia was in their maiden participation in a continental competition and they suffered a zero to one defeat against heavyweights and former winners, Esperance of Tunis who have been in good form in their domestic championship where they occupy the runner up position behind leaders Etoile of Sahel. Cosmos however put up a brave fight as they opened scores in Tunis before being caught up and led by Esperance.

The elimination of the Cameroonian clubs raises questions about the level of the national championship given that the fact that the best performance recorded by a Cameroonian club in continental competitions in the past decade, was the runner up position attained by Coton Sport in 2008.

At first the argument raised was that continental competitions came up at a time when the national championship was in recess and the clubs weren’t fit for competition but this time, the African champion’s league took place with the national championship on course.