To them the ventilated stadiums. To them the view of the Persian Gulf. The Cameroon national team will fly to Qatar in 2022 next November, to play its ninth World Cup there. Thanks to Maxim Choupo-Moting, the game’s first scorer, an extraterrestrial André Onana, and above all a Karl Toko Ekambi, scorer at the last second of extra time in Blida, the Indomitable Lions won their ticket at the expense of Algeria (1-2 ) this Tuesday, during the return play-offs of the competition.
The Cameroonians expected to face an Algerian side withdrawn into their own half, trying to defend to maintain the lead they gained in the first leg. That no ! Djamel Belmadi’s men took control of the game. The Fennecs could even have opened the scoring three times. If Slimani (1e) et Ryad Mahrez (12e) missed the target at the entrance to the surface, Youcef Atal saw André Onana counter his shot with both fists (16e).
Choupo-Moting shows the way
If the possession was Algerian, the Cameroonians only needed one opportunity to open the scoring. On a corner sent deep by Ambroise Oyongo, Rais Mbohli goes up in the air to recover the ball. But the Algerian goalkeeper, jostled by one of his teammates releases the ball to the delight of Choupo-Moting who takes the opportunity to score (0-1, 21e).
The game started again to the advantage of the Algerians who multiplied the counter-attacks. The pressure is mounting in the Cameroonian camps and the Fennecs are very close to equalizing. Helped by a missed bicycle from Michaël Ngadeu, Islam Slimani recovers the ball and sends a perfect cross in the direction of Youcef Belaïli. The Brest striker had only one move to make: place the ball in the back of the net. But fortunately for André Onana, his shot is off target (29e). Les Fennecs kept up the pace, but Belaïli’s numerous attempts were doomed to failure.
The Algerians start the second half like the previous one with a high game. Logically, Djamel Belmadi’s players get the first chances. Slimani first sees his goal disallowed for offside (50e). The Sporting striker does it again a few moments later. After getting rid of a defender, the 33-year-old sends a powerful shot to the edge of the area. The ball goes to the lower left corner of the goal, but André Onana makes a nice save in two stages (59e). Léandre Tawamba and Martin Hongla then miss the break point by hitting the goalkeeper and a defender respectively (68e). They could have blamed themselves if André Onana had not repelled Mahrez’s shot in the final minutes (89e).
André Onana size pattern
The Algerians start the extensions on a whirlwind. One minute was enough for Islam Slimani to create danger in the opposing camp. Lonely behind Ngadeu’s back, the Sporting Club player is on the verge of scoring with a header (91e). Ten minutes later, same opportunity, same error from Ngadeu, and same player at the finish. This time Sliman scores, but his hand has trailed near his head. The goal is disallowed (101e). The rest of the time, it’s André Onana who has to make multiple stops to save his side. As on this heavy strike from Ismaël Bennacer (111e). Before being powerless on a header from Ahmed Touba who pierced the Cameroonian nets (1-1, 118e).
The Fennecs were sure they had done the job. But all it took was one last Cameroonian chance to sink them: a free kick well lifted by Faï Collins who found Ngadeu. The defender pushes the ball with his head. The leather falls just in front of the feet of a Toko Ekambi who only has to make a small gesture to send him to the back of the net (1-2, 120e). Cameroonians can’t believe it, but they are well qualified for the 2022 World Cup.