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africanews

The crop of home-based players of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, flying the nation's flag at the on-going African Nations Championship in Sudan have started the competition on a good note. The Cameroonian team thrashed their counterparts from the DR Congo two nil at the El Merriekh stadium in Oumduman, Sudan.

A Congolese team that came into the competition basking in the glory of their top club, Tout Puissant Mazembe, were dominated by the Lions during 90 minutes of play. Despite coming along with 11 players from Tout Puissant Mazembe, the winners of the 2010 CAF Champions League, the Lions were not intimidated. The Cameroonian squad led by captain Paul Roland Bebey Kingue put up a spirited fight, containing the Congolese midfield and attacking machinery from operating.

The Lions’ inter-positional play style and daring attitude from the wingers paid off at the 41st minute when Joseph Julien Momasso of Astres of Douala shot in the opener for Cameroon. Momasso mesmerised the Congolese defender with his swift dribbling approach to the game and subsequently fired a shot that the stylish-looking Congolese keeper, Muteba Kidiaba could not stop. This goal rather spurred the boys of Emmanuel Ndoumbe Bosso, the Lions’ trainer. The Cameroonians became confident in their style and fortified their defence mechanism, warding off some Congolese offensive moves.

After 45 minutes it was Cameroon on the lead. At the second segment of the match, Bebey Kingue and friends came reinforced in their spirits. The replacements carried out by Ndoumbe Bosso; Patrick Balogog going in for Momasso and Elvis Ashu Tambe taking the place of Ousmaïla Baba rather strengthened the Cameroonians. Before Baba ceded his place to Ashu Tambe, he had netted the second goal for Cameroon at the 79th minute.

The Cameroonian attacker benefitted from a poor communication link between a Congolese defender, Bokese and his keeper, Kidiaba. The latter failed to stop a back pass from the former, giving an opportunity to the vigilant Cameroonian striker to force his way between the Congolese players and push in the second goal for the Lions.

Though the Congolese coach exploited his three opportunities to make changes in his team, not much came out of it. Even the much talked about Kasongo did not do a lot for his team. He will be remembered for one spectacular move he made in the match, but it failed to meet the required target.

Earlier in the match, one of the Lions attackers, Valentine Atem Fondongbeza, sustained a knee injury that forced the Cameroonian hit man to unprecedentedly leave the green turf of the El Merreikh Stadium. This incident prompted Ndoumbe Bosso to reorganise his attacking machinery.

In other Group A matches played Saturday; Zimbabwe lost to Niger 0 – 1 while South Africa overpowered Ghana 2 -1.