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Togo pips Cameroon
Accra, March 28, Ghanadot/GNA – The
Hawks of Togo, secured a lone victory over an unimpressive
Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the opening match of Group A of
the joint Africa/World Cup qualifier played at the Ohene Djan
Stadium, Accra, on Saturday.
But for 77th minute penalty blown off by live-wire Emmanuel
Sheyi Adebayor, the Togolese would have ran away with a 2-0 win
over the Cameroonians, who had every opportunity in the second
half to win the day but failed to part their acts together when
it mattered most.
Honouring their last match of the four match home ban imposed on
them by the Confederation of Africa (CAF) for crowd violence,
the Togolese who enjoyed massive support from local fans, were
the dominant side in the early stages of the game, with Adebayor
missing a fourth minute scoring opportunity, when his header
from Salifou Moustapha’s cross was parried off by Idris Carlos
Kameni in post for Cameroon.
Prior to the miss, the Cameroonians had made a third minute
attempt at scoring but also failed as the game centered
momentarily in midfield, but it was the Togolese who broke off
again in the 10th minute and had the opener through Adebayaor.
Adebayor, even though looked unfit for the game after a long
injury spell, trapped a perfect cross delivered onto his path by
Ramao Alaixys, shrugged off a challenge from Andre Bikey before
firing into the net for the only goal of the match.
The goal drew a swift but temporal reaction from the
Cameroonians, who relied on long balls into the Togolese goal
area in search of an equalizer, which never came their way
allowing the home team to recover fro the onslaught.
Both sides from thereon engaged in series of exchanges to gain
supremacy, but none created a clear cut chance until the 43rd
minute, when Komlan Amewou’s timely intervention denied Somen A
Tchoyi the equalizer, whilst an injury time free-kick from
Geremi Njitap was beautifully tapped off by keeper Obilale
Kodjovi.
The resultant corner was wasted leaving the Togo’s lone goal
lead intact at the close of the first half.
The Lions had a bigger share of the second half following the
introduction of Eric Djemba Djemba, Stephane Mbia and Paul Alo’O
for Ngome Daniel, Webo Pierre and Modeste Mbami respectively.
Djemba Djemba’s presence in the Cameroonian team brought
stability in their midfield, whilst Alo’O was a real tormentor
for the Togolese defence as they ensured constant pressure on
the defence.
They were however unable to find the equalizer as Samuel Eto’O
Fills had his goal bound shot saved by keeper Obilale in the
47th minute with Makoun’s connection to Alo’s cross well dealt
with by the Togolese keeper.
It was a half that belonged to the Indomitable Lions as they
created series of decent chances but with Tchoyi, Eto’O and
Makoun failing to have the right direction for the much needed
goal as they continue to mess up the chances that came their
way.
Relying on occasional counter breaks, the Togolese succeeded in
one of such raids, when Adebayaor took on the Cameroonian
defence as he wove his way into the goal area before he was
pushed down by Njitap for Egyptian referee Abd Fatah Essam El
Deen to point to the penalty spot.
The Togolese captain elected himself for the kick and the
partisan crowd were up to celebrate another goal but were
disappointed as the Arsenal striker shot over the bar in the
77th minute.
The Cameroonians again took the opportunity to re-launch another
round of attack on the Togolese in the last quarter of the game
in search for the level, but this did not work for them due to
the excellent work done by the defensive system coupled with the
agility of keeper Obilale to keep their lead intact till the
close of the game.
Six yellows cards were recorded in the match with Adebayor,
Amewou, Obilaye and Gaffar Abdoul going into the books of
Togolese whilst Bikey and Njitap got booked on the part of the
Cameroonians.
Line Up:
Togo – Obilale Kodjovi, Nibombe Dare, Emmanuel Adebayor, Richard
Forsour, Gafar Abdoul, Salifou Moustapha/Senaya Junior, Amewou
Komlan, Thomas Dossevi, Sheriff Toure/Kassim Gouyazou, Akapko
Sege, Ramao Alaixys
Cameroon: Kameni Iddriss, Song Rigobert, Geremi Njitap, Bikey
Andre Amougou, Assou Renoit, Mbami Modeste/Stephane Mbia, Makoun
Jean, Ngome Daniel/Djemba Djemba, Somen Tchoyi, Samuel Eto’O
Fils, Webo Pierre/ Alo’o Paul
GNA
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