WCQ CAF: Cameroon finished second — and should be glad about it

There were all kinds of calculations regarding Cameroon’s qualification for the World Cup — they were hoping for a miracle and a poor result from Cape Verde, which, combined with a victory over Angola, would have secured their place. Instead, Cape Verde made history by qualifying with a win, while Cameroon played out a goalless draw with Angola.

Even so, Cameroon can be satisfied, as Angola had opportunities to knock them out of the race. As it stands, the Indomitable Lions will most likely finish among the four best runners-up.

Cameroon entered this match with the clear objective of securing all three points to improve their position in the World Cup qualifying group — but that sense of urgency was nowhere to be seen on the pitch. The first half offered little to remember, with both sides producing just two shots on target in 45 minutes of play.

In the 37th minute, Cameroon’s Castelletto came closest after a cross from Mbeumo, trying to capitalize on a mistake by Angola’s goalkeeper, but his effort drifted wide of the post.

Five minutes later, Angola responded when Mabululu broke through on the right side, yet Andre Onana was alert and calmly dealt with the shot.

As the half neared its end, a moment of chaos nearly punished Cameroon — Maestro of Angola struck directly from a free kick, the ball deflected off the wall and looped dangerously toward goal, clipping the crossbar. Onana appeared hesitant, barely reacting to the ball that could have easily embarrassed him and his team.

The second half began with much more intensity, and Cameroon finally showed some signs of life in attack. In the 48th minute, Nkoudou delivered a precise cross to the far post, where Mbeumo met the ball with a strong strike from the right side — but Angola’s goalkeeper reacted brilliantly to keep the score level.

Just a minute later, the Angolan keeper was called into action twice more, producing two impressive saves from long-range efforts to deny Cameroon.

In the 54th minute, Angola threatened on the counter when Mabululu fired from the right, only to send his shot narrowly wide of Onana’s goal. A minute later, Zambo Anguissa tried his luck from about 25 meters, hitting a powerful first-time shot that sailed just over the crossbar.

Cameroon continued to press, and in the 58th minute Ebong had a promising opportunity, but his strike from inside the box went just wide to the right.

At the other end, Maestro tested Onana again in the 67th minute with a dangerous long-range effort, but the Inter Milan goalkeeper was up to the task. Two minutes later, Zambo Anguissa once more came close with a fierce shot from a good position, only for the Angolan keeper to pull off yet another fine save.

The best — and perhaps most dramatic — moment for Angola came in the 80th minute when Zito unleashed a stunning effort from distance that rattled the crossbar. Cameroon were inches away from falling further into trouble, as the ball’s rebound nearly turned disaster into reality.

WC QUALIFICATION AFRICA - MATCHDAY 10

Monday

Equatorial Guinea - Liberia 1-1 (1-1)

/Bikoro 14 - Andrews 27/

Sao Tome - Malawi 1-0 (0-0)

/Afonso 62 pen/

South Sudan - Togo 0-0

Tunisia - Namibia 3-0 (1-0)

/Abdi 28 pen, Mejbri 55, Sassi 64/

Cameroon - Angola 0-0

Cape Verde - Eswatini 3-0 (0-0)

/Rocha Livramento 48, Semedo 54, Stopira 90+1/

Lesotho - Zimbabwe 1-0 (0-0)

/Kalake 90+3/

Mauritius - Libya 0-0

Tuesday

16.00: (20.0) Seychelles (13.0) Gambia (1.08)

19.00: (1.65) Algeria (3.60) Uganda (5.80)

19.00: (1.57) Guinea (3.60) Botswana (7.25)

19.00: (1.37) Nigeria (4.50) Benin (10.0)

19.00: (1.20) S.Africa (5.90) Rwanda (20.0)

19.00: (9.00) Somalia (4.80) Mozambique (1.37)

22.00: (1.28) Dr Congo (5.40) Sudan (12.0)

22.00: (1.30) Gabon (5.00) Burundi (12.0)

22.00: (1.13) Ivory Coast (8.00) Kenya (22.0)

22.00: (1.02) Morocco (15.0) Congo (95.0)

22.00: (1.15) Senegal (7.75) Mauritania (19.0)

***odds are subject to change***