COMOROS almost pulled off Mission Impossible as they took ake on AFCON hosts Cameroon with no goalkeeper available.
The islanders were hit with a wave of Covid, ruling 12 players out of contention for this round of 16 game, including all their keepers.
As a result, left-back Chaker Alhadhur played in goal for the night.
To make matters worse, former Millwall star Nadjim Abdou was sent off after just six minutes, before Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting gave the Indomitable Lions the lead on the half hour mark.
Vincent Aboubakar then doubled the home side’s lead with 20 minutes remaining.
But a stunning free kick from Youssouf N’Changama gave Comoros hope.
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- Cameroon XI: Onana, Fai, Ngadeu, Castelletto, Tolo, Hongla, Anguissa, Choupo-Moting, Ngamaleu, Toko Ekambi, Aboubakar
- Comoros XI: Alhadhur; Zahary, Nadjim, Ben Djaloud, Said; Bachirou, M’Changama, Abdullah; Baki Youssouf, El Fardou, Mogni.
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FT: Cameroon 2-1 Comoros
Cameroon made it through to the quarter-finals after beating a depleted but heroic Comoros side at the Paul Biya Stadium.
The Coelacanths were without 12 players, who have contracted Covid-19 as well as manager Amir Abdou, who was replaced by assistant Younes Zerdouk.
The visitors were also playing with left-back Chaker Alhadhur as a makeshift goalkeeper as two of their keepers have coronavirus and the other is injured.
If that wasn’t enough, Comoros lost their captain Nadjim Abdou to a straight red card after he stomped on Moumi Ngamaleu’s ankle from behind in the seventh minute.
Cameroon didn’t really struggle and opened the scoring after 29 minutes when they dispossessed the opposing defence and Vincent Aboubakar teed off Karl Toko Ekambi, who didn’t miss in the area.
Alhadhur should have done better as he watched the weak shot send the ball to his bottom right corner, but then again who can blame him…
Alhadhur stole the headlines in the second half as he denied an unbelievable opportunity for Cameroon on 54 minutes.
Aboubakar broke inside the area from the left and delivered a shot that the Comoros makeshift keeper saved down his bottom left corner with a fine lunge.
Ngamaleu got the rebound but the full-back quickly got back up to his feet and saved his shot with a stunning save.
Comoros’ hopes seemed to have faded away in the 70th minute when Martin Hongla delivered a fantastic low pass to Aboubakar, who ran behind the visitors’ defence.
The Africa Cup of Nations’ leading goalscorer found himself in front of Alhadhur, who should have come off his line earlier, and beat him with a fine finish to score his sixth goal of the tournament.
But Comoros got one in with what will be remembered as their greatest goal so far, which could go down as the best finish of the tournament.
Youssouf M’Changama delivered a stunning long-range free-kick and sent the ball to the top right corner of Onana, who couldn’t do anything about it.
That’s all from us here at SunSport, have a lovely night!
GETTY IMAGES Chak this out
Cameroon made it to the Africa Cup of Nations’ quarter-finals and were superior to the depleted Comoros.
But the Coelacanths still put together an inspiring performance in what will go down as a historic Copa Africa for them.
The minnows were missing 12 players including their manager Amir Abdou to Covid-19.
They were also without a goalkeeper as two of them have coronavirus and the other is injured.
Thus, left-back Chaker Alhadhur had to start between the sticks in what should have been a very difficult decision for him.
And still, Alhadhur stood his ground and made six saves, which was two more than his counterpart Andre Onana.
The Ajaccio ace even made a brilliant double save on 54 minutes when he denied Vincent Aboubakar and Moumi Ngamaleu’s shots
GETTY IMAGES What’s next?
Cameroon are through to the Africa Cup of Nations’ quarter-finals after eliminating Comoros.
And the Indomitable Lions are set to face another Copa Africa debutant in the Gambia.
The Scorpions finished second in Group F behind Mali and eliminated Guinea in the Last 16.
Cameroon are now considered among the favourites to win the tournament
GETTY IMAGES
Stats
Cameroon dominated 66 per cent of possession against a depleted Comoros side.
The Indomitable Lions registered a total of 19 shots, six of which were on target.
The Coelacanths, on the other hand, recorded 13 shots, seven of which were on target.
Comoros’ makeshift goalkeeper Chaker Alhadhur made six saves, two more than his counterpart Andre Onana
FT: Cameroon 2-1 Comoros
Cameroon made it through to the quarter-finals after beating a depleted but heroic Comoros side at the Paul Biya Stadium.
The Coelacanths were without 12 players, who have contracted Covid-19 as well as manager Amir Abdou, who was replaced by assistant Younes Zerdouk.
The visitors were also playing with left-back Chaker Alhadhur as a makeshift goalkeeper as two of their keepers have coronavirus and the other is injured.
If that wasn’t enough, Comoros lost their captain Nadjim Abdou to a straight red card after he stomped on Moumi Ngamaleu’s ankle from behind in the seventh minute.
Cameroon didn’t really struggle and opened the scoring after 29 minutes when they dispossessed the opposing defence and Vincent Aboubakar teed off Karl Toko Ekambi, who didn’t miss in the area.
Alhadhur should have done better as he watched the weak shot send the ball to his bottom right corner, but then again who can blame him…
But Comoros showed some real spirit as they came close to an equaliser TWICE on 33 minutes.
Ahmed Mogni delivered a fantastic shot from the edge of the box but Andre Onana denied it with an incredible lunge to his bottom left corner.
Youssouf M’Changama got the rebound inside the penalty area and released a good shot towards the bottom right corner but Onana showed incredible reflexes once more.
Alhadhur stole the headlines in the second half as he denied an unbelievable opportunity for Cameroon on 54 minutes.
Aboubakar broke inside the area from the left and delivered a shot that the Comoros makeshift keeper saved down his bottom left corner with a fine lunge.
Ngamaleu got the rebound but the full-back quickly got back up to his feet and saved his shot with a stunning save.
Comoros’ hopes seemed to have faded away in the 70th minute when Martin Hongla delivered a fantastic low pass to Aboubakar, who ran behind the visitors’ defence.
The Africa Cup of Nations’ leading goalscorer found himself in front of Alhadhur, who should have come off his line earlier, and beat him with a fine finish to score his sixth goal of the tournament.
But Comoros got one in with what will be remembered as their greatest goal so far, which could go down as the best finish of the tournament.
M’Changama delivered a stunning long-range free-kick and sent the ball to the top right corner of Onana, who couldn’t do anything about it
GETTY IMAGES FT: Cameroon 2-1 Comoros
Referee blows his whistle while Comoros are on the attack, very poor that!
Cameroon 2-1 Comoros
90 Just three more minutes of added time to go.
Are we going to see any late drama?
Cameroon 2-1 Comoros
90 Chance!
Cameroon star Honga delivers a powerful long-range shot that forces a save from Ahadhur
Cameroon 2-1 Comoros
88 Substitution
Comoros make some late changes with M’Madi, Djoumoi and Djoudja replacing Bakari, Bachirou and Youssouf
Cameroon 2-1 Comoros
87 Yellow card
Comoros substitute Mattoir goes in the book as the visitors are pushing for the miracle
Cameroon 2-1 Comoros
86 That is because M’Changama scored an absolute screamer in the dying minutes of the match!
The Comoros ace hit the back of the net with a long-range free-kick from the left!
GETTY IMAGES Cameroon 2-1 Comoros
85 Cameroon star Aboubakar thought he clinched the win for Cameroon.
But the hosts’ place in the quarter-finals is not exactly sealed
GETTY IMAGES Cameroon 2-1 Comoros
84 Substitution
Cameroon make a late change as Jean Onana replaces Zambo Anguissa
Cameroon 2-1 Comoros
81 Let’s ask ourselves the same question: Is it over? Not quite!
M’Changama scores perhaps the nation’s finest ever goal with a long-range free-kick.
Onana tried, he really tried, but there was nothing the Cameroon keeper could do as he saw the ball hit his top right corner!
An absolute screamer of a goal! Maybe the best goal of the tournament this year!
Cameroon 2-1 Comoros
GOAL!
Comoros are back in the game with M’Changama!
Cameroon 2-0 Comoros
80 Yellow card
Cameroon ace Hongla gets booked as we approach the final 10 minutes of the match
Cameroon 2-0 Comoros
78 What a chance!
Comoros come extremely close to an equaliser!
A loose header sets Ben inside the area and he delivers a powerful shot that is denied by Onana!
The Coelacanths keep the ball alive with Mattoir and M’Changama gets the ball before he shoots it over the crossbar
Cameroon 2-0 Comoros
77 Substitution
Cameroon respond with Lea Siliki replacing Toko Ekambi.
We told you Toni will start saving players for the quarter-finals
Cameroon 2-0 Comoros
75 Substitution
Comoros make another change as Mattoir replaces Youssouf
Cameroon 2-0 Comoros
75 Cameroon’s tempo has decreased and we shouldn’t be surprised if Toni starts saving key players for Gambia.
Comoros, though, are pushing for a goal, their fourth ever in the competition!
Cameroon 2-0 Comoros
73 Chance!
As we were saying, Comoros can get a goal in!
Mohamed gets the ball in the area from the right.
The substitute shoots from a tight angle and forces a save from Onana
Cameroon 2-0 Comoros
73 The noise from the stands has increased as the home fans are confident Cameroon are already through to the quarter-finals.
But Comoros could still get one in and earn a moral victory
Cameroon 2-0 Comoros
70 Is that it? Probably…
Hongla delivers a fantastic low pass to Aboubakar, who runs behind Comoros’ defence.
The Cameroon star finds himself in front of Alhadhur, who should have come off his line earlier but meh, and beats him with a fine finish
Cameroon 2-0 Comoros
GOAL!
Cameroon double their lead with Aboubakar!
Cameroon 1-0 Comoros
68 Comoros are showing signs of life as they just broke into a counter-attack with M’Changama and Ben.
Cameroon clear the ball but understand this game is not won yet!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
