Tunisia 0-0 Cameroon
Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have strengthened their intention to qualify for World Cup 2014 in Brazil. In the 4th play off matches, Sunday, October 13 2013 in the Olympic Stadium in Rades, Tunisia, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon forced the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia to a zero all tie.
The Cameroonian team had a spectacular and athletic keeper in the person of Charles Itandje, who made about ten vital saves for the Lions.
For 93 minutes of the game in Rades, the communication between the Cameroonian midfield and the attack line was not very effective. Captain, Samuel Fils Eto’o and Achille Kwamou Webo upfront did not do any good to the Cameroonian team. For the one or two glaring scoring opportunities for Cameroon, Webo, uninspiringly, wasted the chances.
Cameroon - Tunisia in a duel during the 2008 AFCON in Ghana
Allan Nyom, donning jersey number 2, who will be replaced by Jean Armel Kana Biyick in the second segment of the match, was a shadow of himself. Nyom was trading his skills for the first time in the Lions’ den, came in place of Henri Bedimo, who is injured.
The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, managed by Dutchman, Ruud Krol, who has been given a two-month contract by the Tunisian Football Federation, were on the offensive in the first half of the match, but had a stiff resistance from a level-headed Charles Itandje in the Cameroonian goal post, who stopped their intentions to take a lead in this first leg match. Despite a more purposeful Tunisian attacking machinery, the Cameroonian defence mechanism stopped them from any embarrassment.
After bugging down the Tunisians in Rades, will the Lions make the difference and qualify for Brazil 2014 come Sunday, November 17 2013 when they play the return leg play off in Yaoundé, Cameroon? Let’s wait and see.
Before the Tunisia – Cameroon match in Rades, both teams have played 13 times, with 6 of them friendlies and 7 official matches. The Lions have had the upper hand, winning 6 times, losing 2 times to the Carthage Eagles and drawing 5 times. The Sunday, October 13 match makes it the 14th match for both teams and the 6th tie.
In the other African playoffs, the Elephants of Ivory Coast, Saturday, October 12 2013, bashed Senegal 3-1 in Abidjan, with Didier Drogba opening scores via a penalty and leading his country to victory. Still on Saturday, October 12, a spirited Stallions of Burkina Faso led by head coach, Paul Put and fine scorer, Jonathan Pitroipa, who opened scores for the Burkinabes, stunned Algeria in a dramatic 3-2 victory.
A motivated Nigerian squad, led by coach, Stephen Keshi went to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to surprise the Ethiopians with a 2-1 victory, making qualification for Brazil 2014 close for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The last of the five first leg matches of African playoffs for the road to Brazil 2014 will be played on Tuesday, October 15 2013 in Kumassi, Ghana. The Black Stars of Ghana will welcome the Pharaohs of Egypt.
The return leg matches, to get the five countries that will represent Africa in Brazil 2014 will be played in the weekend of November 15 – 17 2013. Therefore, more football frenzy is expected in the African continent come November 2013.
